Todd Cantwell has lit up Scottish football since arriving from Norwich City and yet the Rangers midfielder has been singled out for attention.
Opposition players and referees alike seem to have it in for the 24-year old who showed once again against Hearts that he is a class above.
Michael Beale was asked about the treatment Todd Cantwell has been receiving after joining Rangers and he didn’t pull any punches, via the club’s YouTube channel.
“We all know where it’s coming from. That was a blatant foul at the weekend, two hands in his chest and anywhere else on the pitch it’s a foul.
“Why would Todd just fall over? But now there’s a narrative around it. He’s doing really well and I think we should just enjoy him while he’s in our league.
“He’s been in our league for a few months and he’s shown lots of bright things.
“Tonight he scored a fantastic goal, he’s feisty and he’s everything that fans want – to play the game with passion.
“We’ve got to be careful because we’ve been down that road before with Alfredo, haven’t we?”
The Gers gaffer is right.
When Rangers were miles away from Celtic, Alfredo Morelos barely made the back pages.
There were no highlights packages focussed on every move the Colombian made and he was just another striker trying to cause opposition defences problems.
Morelos has always played on the edge and been a nuisance, or temperamental.
There have been no malicious attempts to injure players or throw elbows into opposition defenders noses looking to leave his mark.
Morelos got sent off for celebrating on one occasion and because the fourth official thought he saw something on another.
Todd Cantwell is heading the same way.
Why is Todd Cantwell being targeted for Rangers
The January signing isn’t flying into tackles and isn’t going ballistic at referees and yet on and off the pitch he is being singled out.
Beale is right to call it out now.
It’s clear why other players are picking on Cantwell.
The “welcome to Scottish football” cliché is an embarrassing one that holds the country back, especially when teams try to compete in Europe.
Why the referees fail to punish late tackles time, after time, on the England youth international, only they will know.
Against Hearts, Cantwell was the victim of the most yellow card tackle you will ever see from Yutaro Oda.
Late, from behind and in a scissor motion.
Only a free-kick.
No wonder Cantwell was asking John Beaton the question.
Unfortunately, as with Alfredo Morelos, he’ll have to get used to it and adapt.
If he is expecting favours, he’s come to the wrong league and is wearing the wrong colours.