Neil McCann names Rangers star who has 'reinvigorated' side and how that has benefited one teammate in particular
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Rangers look like a totally different animal nowadays to earlier in the season.
Philippe Clement has ditched his stubborn tactics and allowed his squad to play with more freedom and that has completely changed the complexion of the season.
Gers have finally overtaken Aberdeen to move second despite having to climb a mountain of points to do so.
The feelgood factor at Ibrox is back despite last weekend’s Premier Sports Cup Final where the Light Blues were denied a stonewall penalty against Celtic.
A win over Dundee – albeit a narrow one on paper – saw the team express themselves and create plenty of chances that perhaps they should have scored from.
And one man who put in a shift and created plenty was Ianis Hagi.
It has been a rollercoaster season for the Romanian having been told he was not in Clement’s plans earlier this term.
Ianis Hagi has been superb since he returned to Rangers squad
Genoa were linked with Hagi as the latest in a long line of interested parties this weekend, but after another impressive showing vs the Dees, it’s likely the winger won’t be going anywhere.
For Neil McCann, speaking on Sportscene, he felt Hagi was one of the best on the pitch having also watched him score a goal that was ruled out for offside.
And it was not just against Dundee that McCann was impressed with the playmaker.
Hagi’s form has been excellent since he returned to the fold and ex-Ibrox star McCann reckons he has “reinvigorated” the side.
He also believes Nedim Bajrami has benefited from his presence as it allows the creative star to play in his favoured position and do the business there.
How McCann believes Hagi has benefited Nedim Bajrami’s game
“I was probably one that felt when he was playing with the Bs that he could offer something in the Rangers first team,” McCann said.
“It says a lot about the boy’s attitude, which I feel is absolutely first class, that he was prepared to take a hit with the suggestion that his money would go up.
“Being almost cast aside then brought into the side once more, I feel he has completely reinvigorated the front line because he offers a variation of play.
“He is really clever and one of his best attributes is his awareness of the game.
“He’s so strong on both sides, left foot and right foot, and he wants to go in behind and he’s looking at crosses but there’s a mixture, a variation of play from a wide area.
“It has allowed Bajrami, who was good in the cup final, to play in that 10 position which was probably where he was acquired to play. It has just given Rangers a lot of fluidity and outside of that his work rate has been brilliant."
