The early season concerns are distant memory now. This Glasgow Rangers side look like a real force to be reckoned with in the Premiership.
Having dispatched Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon, the Gers have now won six league games in succession, conceding just once across their last four.
Under Derek McInnes‘ watch, the Glasgow giants look defensively sound and solid again, although there’s also a fresh feel to the forward line too.
Indeed, the impact of January arrival, Ryan Naderi, has been particularly eye-catching, the young German finally finding his groove in Scottish football.
How Naderi stole the headlines again against Kilmarnock
Having signed on deadline day back in February, it’s taken a little while for Naderi to get going at Ibrox, and perhaps unsurprisingly too, considering he’d only been operating in Germany’s third tier previously.
He had scored just three goals in the back end of last term, only one of which came in the Premiership, having been overshadowed by the exploits of Youssef Chermiti.
With the Portuguese striker out of the equation now due to injury, as too is Lawrence Shankland, Naderi has stepped up to the plate in his absence, shining in his role behind summer signing, Kevin Kelsy.
|
Rangers |
Statistic |
Kilmarnock |
|---|---|---|
|
60% |
Ball possession |
40% |
|
1.41 |
Expected goals (xG) |
1.23 |
|
2 |
Big chances |
0 |
|
17 |
Total shots |
13 |
|
5 |
Goalkeeper saves |
1 |
|
7 |
Corner kicks |
3 |
|
15 |
Fouls |
13 |
|
506 |
Passes |
333 |
|
12 |
Tackles |
20 |
|
13 |
Free kicks |
15 |
|
1 |
Yellow cards |
1 |
Against Killie, for instance, the 23-year-old latched onto James Penrice’s pinpoint cross to header home the opener, before adding a second in somewhat fortunate circumstances just before the break.
That second goal epitomised what Naderi is all about, and while it might not always be pretty, the former Hansa Rostock star keeps finding himself in the right place at the right time.
That was evident before the international break against Celtic, as he reacted quickest to net the only goal at Parkhead, with his overall record for the season now standing at nine goals and assists in just 12 games.
Considering he’s not a mere penalty box poacher, more in the Thomas Muller role, that is a fine return, with McInnes having finally settled on a fruitful combination in that frontline.
Such form should hopefully spell the end for those who have previously toiled at Ibrox.
Why £5m Ibrox flop looks to be finished at Rangers
That starting role off the main centre-forward has been a problem for a fair while now at Rangers, with even McInnes taking a little while to settle on this Kelsy-Naderi pairing.
Of course, Naderi is more of a second striker than a playmaking number ten, but even so, he has filled a void that others before him had struggled to.
After so much change, there is consistency now in terms of selection at Ibrox, with it looking like McInnes’ summer recruitment has paid off, including moving on the likes of Thelo Aasgaard.
The versatile Norway international had been snapped up last year from Luton Town for a fee of around £5m, albeit while having struggled to nail down a starting role under either Russell Martin or Danny Rohl.
A natural number ten by trade, the England-born playmaker never really looked capable of dominating a game, only coming to the fore in flashes across his debut campaign.
In all, he did score and assist 13 goals in all competitions last term, but that was a rather muted return for a man in his position, with Naderi already close to bettering that record this time around.
Aasgaard, fresh from featuring at the World Cup, had looked set for a second chance under McInnes’ watch, notably scoring on the opening weekend against Dundee United, before the decision was taken to part ways.
The 24-year-old was subsequently shipped off on loan to Belgian side Anderlecht for the season, joining Oliver Antman at the club following the Finland star’s permanent switch.
So far, Aasgaard has only made three appearances in his new surroundings, with it yet to be seen if Anderlecht will trigger their reported £6m buy option at the end of the campaign.
If they decide not to, then the former Luton man would be set to return to Glasgow next summer, albeit with it seemingly difficult to see a way back for him in a Rangers shirt.
He had his chance and simply didn’t take it, with the form of Naderi and co ensuring that his time should well be up at his parent club.
Let’s face it, as McInnes’ men again showed against Killie, they aren’t exactly missing him.
