Oscar Cortes is ‘adapting really fast’ to life at Rangers with Philippe Clement impressed by a man who enjoyed an eye-catching Scottish Premiership bow against Aberdeen on Tuesday night.
In a week of welcomes at Ibrox, Neil Warnock suffered defeat at the helm of a new side for the first time in 1997, Todd Cantwell’s second-half clincher securing three huge points for the hosts. Oscar Cortes, meanwhile, is certainly enjoyed a happier start to life in his new home, the January signing from RC Lens producing a mouth-watering cameo off the bench as Rangers dominated The Dons.
Eyebrows were raised when Cortes arrived on loan last week, joining just a few months and four appearances after his £4 million move to France. Why were Lens giving up on him so early? Why was there seemingly so little competition for his signature?
Oscar Cortes impressing already at Rangers
One question Cortes did answer when stepping off the bench in midweek, however, revolves around why Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen opted to take a punt on a relatively unproven 20-year-old. The Colombia international was a flurry of energy and enthusiasm as he performed a more-than passable Abdallah Sima impression on the left-hand flank.
“Oscar is adapting really fast,” Clement said, before explaining why Cortes was afforded more minutes against Aberdeen than fellow January addition Mohamed Diomande.
“But he was playing also with the Under-21 team of Colombia so he is more match fit. Dio played his last game at the end of November (for Nordsjaelland) so he has some physical work to do. I see in the training he is also ready to do the right things for the team and week by week, match by match.
“It is seeing if we can bring them more into the story step by step.”
Rangers beat Aberdeen
Rangers completed three signings in the winter window, with Fabio Silva the first to arrive on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Silva, who once cost Wolves a club-record £35 million, opened his account for Clement’s side with a sharp if deflected volley in the 3-0 weekend win over Livingston.
