Through on goal v Partick, Jermain Defoe had an easy chance to make it 1-0. He rather tamely put it to the keeper.

Through on goal v Tranmere, Jermain Defoe had a great chance to make it 1-0, plus a cracking chance from a fine cross.

Again, on all occasions, the finish was tame or non-existent.

There is no question Defoe is the best finisher at the club, and as we are so keen to stress, pre-season doesn’t mean much.

But shooting is an instinct, a natural skill predatory strikers never lose even when they’re low on fitness. And for Defoe to be that blunt was very odd indeed.

The former England striker has moved into a new role, and Ross Wilson has dropped a major hint about the 38-year old’s future.

The Director of Football was clear – Defoe will carry out a normal playing pre-season, but after it’s done he will transition into the coaching staff.

Honestly, we’re not totally sure why he’s doing a pre-season as a player, when he’s going into the full-time coaching inventory when the season gets underway.

Because his focus up front definitely isn’t as sharp as it normally would be. He seems a bit distracted by his new job at the club, and while we’re absolutely not criticising the move, we’re a bit confused by the strategy behind its migration.

Wouldn’t it have been better for him to be player coach during pre-season – part of the staff now and getting immediately on with coaching the squad alongside the others?

He just seems like his heart is already into the coaching side, and he knows that process is imminent, so his focus isn’t fully on the playing any longer.

This is not to say Jermain Defoe isn’t professional – few in the game are more dedicated to their careers and the upkeep of them than Defoe.

But he’s also only human, and he knows it’s only a few weeks till he’s effectively a full-time coach at Ibrox.

It’s an interesting time for him.