Philippe Clement has said from day one that Rangers will improve when the better players return.
The manager has been a good few weeks out with his prediction, but there can be no argument about the current state of the squad and the results.
With stiffer tests on the horizon, Clement can be more confident knowing that Rangers have a fit and firing Danilo leading the line.
Danilo still to hit top gear for Rangers
Cyriel Dessers might have 15 goal contributions in 23 appearances but it is his performances that have been the issue until the Brazilian returned.
With another busy display and a goal against Ross County, Danilo once again cemented his place as Rangers first choice No.9.
According to Clement in his post match press conference though, the best is still to come:
”I’m very happy for Dani and for the team of course, and for myself also. I missed him 11 months that he was not available.
”You see also the difference he can make, so we missed that in a lot of games in the past. So, it’s now raising his levels, he’s not at his top yet, cannot be after that period. But he’s showing already the good things that he showed before.
“He’s not yet at the level that he was in the moment that I started to work here but he’s working hard on that and only time will help in that way and more minutes and more training minutes also.
”Dani is a very positive guy, always with a smile. Not always, because he had some dark moments with the injuries and we had a lot of talks in these moments also to get him out of this difficult period.
”But he’s somebody who loves football and he’s somebody who likes attacking football and that’s what we’re doing.
“That’s the style we want to play, to create a lot of chances. Then it’s also nice for attacking players to play in that style.”
What are Danilo’s numbers since signing for Rangers?
Since signing for Rangers, Danilo has the best goal contribution per minute ratio.
In just 180 minutes, the 25-year old has two goals and one assist this season and it was a similar story in his injury hit 2023/24 with four goals and one assist in 530 minutes.
Eight goal contributions in 810 minutes equates to one every 101 minutes, give or take, the sort of return that Rangers would have been hoping for when they paid Feyenoord £6m for his services.
What Clement and everyone else of a Light Blue persuasion will want to see now is a similar return over the next 25-30 games.
If the best is yet to come, Rangers fans could be in for a treat.
