It’s been a long way back for Rangers’ £3m signing Filip Helander after the big Swede picked up a foot injury in the Betfred Cup Final defeat to Celtic last season.
At that point, Helander was emerging as a top option from Rangers with the Swedish international showing exactly why the Gers shelled out so much to Bologna to sign the centre-half.
Now injury-free and eager to pick up fitness, Helander has found himself out the team due to the solid form of mainstay Connor Goldson and emergence of Leon Balogun.
Balogun was initially signed in the aftermath of Niko Katic’s crushing cruciate ligament injury but has looked a pacey, composed defender who looks very much like a missing piece for Gerrard’s side.
As a result, when big Fil has been thrown into the side he’s been forced to make an impression on Steven Gerrard, no mean feat given a lack of injuries and game time.
Against Bayer Leverkusen, the former Malmo centre-half was amongst the best players on the field and showed his quality at a level where one of the 22 players on the field could move for £90m.
With Rangers’ centre-back pairing of Goldson and Balogun seemingly unshakable in the main, Helander was handed an opportunity to impress amid a minor injury to Leon.
Once again, Helander grabbed this opportunity and helped highlight firstly how much strength in depth Rangers have, but also how having it is making the players raise their game.
There were a few crunching challenges in a commanding second-half performance which also saw the unorthodox runner cover serious ground to put St. Johnstone striker Isaac Olaofe off scoring a certain goal.
There were mild claims for a penalty but it was a masterclass in defensive positioning as Helander went shoulder to shoulder and helped force the ball out.
The defender’s cameo wasn’t missed by the Ibrox faithful who praised the centre-half’s commitment to proving himself at Ibrox:
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Rangers fans have also been praising Croatian wing-back Borna Barisic for his Man of the Match performance in the 3-0 win over St. Johnstone.
