Given that he arrived in Glasgow as something of an unknown quantity, there was not much pressure on the shoulders of Rangers’ £1.7 million summer signing.
At least, not compared to the expectations facing Robin Propper, Connor Barron, Vaclav Cerny. Those who arrived as ready-made, first-team additions.
If Propper, Barron and Cerny were signings made with the present in mind, then the deal which brought Hamza Igamane to Rangers was very much with one eye firmly fixed on the future.
The Morocco Under 23 international had played fewer than 60 senior games for RAF Rabat in his North African home, after all. And Philippe Clement insisted that, when Igamane joined alongside ex-AC Milan starlet Clinton Nsiala, patience would be a virtue with two foreign imports aged 21 and 20 respectively.
But now, after two eye-catching cameos against Celtic and Dundee United, Igamane is suddenly the name on the lips of every Rangers striker.
He no longer has the luxury of hiding behind the cloak of anonymity. Expectation, and excitement, is growing fast despite only 40 minutes of action in Gers colours.
Hamza Igamane is starting to make his mark at Rangers
Former Gers midfielder Andy Halliday was blown away by what he saw from Igamane at Tannadice, even if his ‘best in the world‘ quip was made in jest.
Legendary captain Barry Ferguson, meanwhile, is urging Clement to consider starting the see the 2024 Botola Pro Moroccan league champion against Dundee in Saturday’s Scottish League Cup quarter-final.
Furthermore, the similarities that Kenny Miller made in the Daily Record back in July – when comparing Igamane to a young Alfredo Morelos – are starting to become increasingly commonplace.
Clement, understandably, is keen to keep the ‘hype’ to a minimum.
Just as he was wary of Igamane being written off in case of a slow start, he is equally determined to ensure that the Rangers fans do not expect too much too soon after a couple of impressive touches off the bench.
“You’ve seen also the reaction after when Hamza came on last weekend. Now, there are already really big comparisons with other players from the past,” Clement says at his pre-match press conference, broadcast via Rangers’ official YouTube channel.
“So we need to (develop Igamane) in a good way. That’s also my job to do.
“Not to go in the hype of things, but also not to go in the low of things and to be objective and to keep balance in things and to see what is not good enough. (The things) we need to work on, what is good to keep.
“So that’s my job to do. To be stable in that way.”
Philippe Clement could shuffle his pack against Dundee
With Danilo out injured again, Igamane could see a full Rangers debut arrive a little earlier than he may have expected. Especially with Cyriel Dessers now the only senior centre-forward at Clement’s disposal.
The former Monaco boss is delighted, meanwhile, with the way his Rangers squad is starting to take shape.
Centre-half Propper and left-back Jefte were impressive in that Tom Lawrence-inspired 1-0 win at Dundee United, the former talking up his growing understanding with John Souttar.
Barron has been arguably Rangers’ most consistent performer, meanwhile, and Oscar Cortes marked his return from injury with a promising 45 minutes last time out.
“I believe a lot in the potential of this squad. I know it was incredibly challenging to get a squad like that together with the budget that we have, and with seven players going out without a pound (coming in),” Clement adds.
“I think a lot of good things has happened. We could not do everything in one transfer window. It was not possible because of resources, so we need to build.
“But I’m also happy now that people start to see already the good things that have been done.”
