The growing influence of some of Rangers’ summer signings acts as a warning against writing new faces off before they have had the chance to spread their wings.
The ‘brilliant’ form of left-back Jefte has critics lining up to apologise – see former Rangers forward Gordon Dalziel, for instance – even if the Brazilian’s untimely slip up in the heartbreaking Europa League loss at Manchester United shows just how far he still has to go.
Robin Propper has his doubters, of course, but has now produced stand-out performances against both Celtic and Man United since the turn of the year.
And, after scoring only one goal in his first 11 Rangers appearances, Hamza Igamane now has 12 in his last 15.
Sometimes, a player new to the club, the country and the league just needs a little more time to settle in. See not only Igamane, Jefte and Propper, but also two former Ibrox stalwarts who endured a few teething problems of their own after bidding farewell to life in Glasgow.
Borna Barisic hoping to follow former Rangers teammate John Lundstram and bounce back
John Lundstram scored his first Trabzonspor goal over the weekend, and in some style too. A glorious finish from his weaker left boot. Lundstram has gone from perceived flop to nailed-on starter, the one-time Rangers enforcer ‘very happy’ with the way his career is progressing in Turkey.
Whether Borna Barisic is set to embark upon a redemption arc of his own, only time will tell.
While Lundstram has emphatically won over veteran Trabzonspor coach Senol Gunes, Barisic continues to be restricted to brief cameos off the bench. The Croatia international has played eight times in the Turkish Super Lig, but his first and so far only start came all the way back in August.
And, according to reports at the end of 2024, Borna Barisic’s Trabzonspor career was in doubt after just a few months on the banks of the Black Sea.
NK Dinamo were allegedly looking to bring him back home, while one pundit felt Barisic was nothing more than a ‘big mistake’ for a team who started the season with European ambitions but found themselves hovering nervously above the relegation zone instead.
But, like Lundstram, it appears that Barisic will be given the chance to serve up a slice of humble pie alongside a side of told-you-so flavoured ice cream.
Exit talks on hold as Trabzonspor perform Barisic U-turn
The Taka Gazete say that former Turkey national team coach Gunes has decided to keep Barisic around, feeling that he brings a competitiveness required to bring the best out of the club’s first-choice left-back Eren Emali.
Emali is playing the best football of his career, something Gunes seemingly puts down to the pressure provided by Barisic’s presence, breaking down his neck.
Talks over a return to Croatia, meanwhile, have now ‘frozen’ as the previously frosty relationship between Barisic and Trabzonspor starts to thaw.
Things are suddenly looking up. Not just for Barisic and Lundstram, but for Trabzonspor as a whole. The recent 4-0 hammering of Sivasspor – a result capped by Lundstram’s late blockbuster – lifts the club up to ninth in the table.
Relegation feels like a long way off these days. So, for that matter, do the reports indicating that Lundstram and Barisic were set to be shoved unceremoniously out the door.
“First of all, I am very happy,” Lundstram beamed after opening his Trabzonspor account. “I am very happy for both scoring a goal and for the three points. Perhaps what makes me happier is to see the team getting better. Because our team is getting better week by week.
“We are starting to play better football. We already had quality. We had tried to show this before but, as we build confidence again, the team can show its quality.
“This also makes me happy.”
