Barry Ferguson played his part getting Dan Neil to Ibrox. Now the former Rangers captain expects the man currently holding the armband to have a major say himself as the Light Blues look to insert themselves into the title conversation.
Derek McInnes' men have certainly made their intentions clear with a stunning Old Firm double triumph. Back-to-back wins over Martin O'Neill's Celtic have propelled Gers into the last four of the Premier Sports Cup and slashed the gap on the Parkhead Premiership leaders back to just two points.
Neil's Old Firm heroics
It was Neil more than anyone who roared Rangers' declaration of intent at Ibrox in the opening derby duel, smashing two goals in a dominant 3-0 victory. The stand-in skipper - who is leading the team out while crocked captain Lawrence Shankland is sidelined - backed that up with another display of composure and control at Celtic Park to well and truly hush the critics who had taken aim at the former Sunderland ace following a tough start in Glasgow.
But Ferguson always suspected the midfielder would come good having sat down with Neil last year to help persuade him to swap Wearside for Clydeside. It was his job as a club ambassador to help convince the Englishman to reject offers to stay south of the border.
Ferguson's recruitment role
And Fergie was relieved to hear Neil announce he was ready to talk the talk in Glasgow. "Yeah, I spoke to him last season," revealed the Record Sport pundit. "I had a good chat with him and his old man when Rangers were interested in him. That's just my role as an ambassador, just to help. I'll do anything I can to help the club, and that's one of the roles. If you see a player, you sit down and talk to him and let him know what the club's all about and the demands and expectations.
"I came away so impressed by him. He was so eager to come to Rangers. I know there were a number of clubs after him, and Rangers did brilliantly to get him. I don't know who was more excited, me or him! But that's one thing I saw from him, a real desire to come to Rangers because he's a very good player. There were obviously a lot of clubs interested in him, and I thought it was key at the time that Rangers got his signature.
"Thankfully they did and you know what I like about him? I like that he's come through a slow period and over the last few games, I think he's been a real driving force, and it's great to see that the Rangers supporters are finally seeing his qualities. It's always difficult when you don't have a good start, but it shows you how strong a character he is. He's come through that period and over the last couple of weeks, I think he became a real leader for the Rangers team."
Leadership and resilience
Neil's frustrating start saw him hooked at half-time twice early doors while struggling to assert himself at Ibrox. But Ferguson knew he'd come good. "Yeah, he's been really impressive," he said. "I think Dan had a slow start to his Rangers career. He was in and out of the team, playing 45 minutes then maybe getting taken off or starting on the bench and coming on. But I think you see the reason why Rangers chased him. I've said it plenty of times, I've seen Dan Neil a number of times myself, and I knew Rangers were getting a real competitor, a leader as well.
"He's only 24, but he shows those qualities. I think this last period of games, certainly the two Celtic games, he's been outstanding. I think he and Nico together are starting to build a real relationship in the middle of the pitch."
It says a lot about the youthful nature of this Rangers squad that at 24, Neil is already one of the more experienced campaigners. He was handed the armband even earlier than that during his stint at the Stadium of Light - something Fergie knows a thing or two about himself having taken over the post at Ibrox when he was just 22.
"To do that job you need a strong mentality, but I knew Dan had that," said Ferguson. "He captained Sunderland, and no disrespect to Sunderland, they're not as big as Rangers. But he's been at a big club and he knows and he's handled the expectations really well. I think he's done the same in the last number of weeks for Rangers. Can I see a bit of myself in him? A wee bit at times, but again, he was a young captain at Sunderland. I had the same at Rangers, and it's difficult because when you've got a lot more experienced guys in the dressing room, it's how they take to it.
"I was lucky I had a lot of guys I could lean on. He's had the same at Sunderland, and now he's come to Rangers and he's still young at 24. But he's handling the responsibility brilliantly, and it's not affecting his game, that's the most important thing."
Proving the doubters wrong
As Gers toiled during a stuttering first month of the season - a four week spell which saw McInnes men spill five points on Celtic and suffer a double European elimination - there were plenty ready to write Neil off as the latest in a long-line of English Championship imports who have failed at Ibrox. But Ferguson said: "I had no worries when Rangers signed Dan. I spoke to a lot of my mates who are Rangers fans. They were worried because, in previous seasons, players have come up from English leagues and struggled but I had no doubt in my mind. I'd seen him a number of times, I'd spoken to him, I knew what kind of boy he is. Now he's become a real important part of the team. I think being captain, getting that added responsibility, I think he's handled it brilliantly."
