Breaking News:RANGERS PLAYMAKER HAS SIGNED A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT TO EXTEND HIS STAY

Breaking News:RANGERS PLAYMAKER HAS SIGNED A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT TO EXTEND HIS STAY

Danny Buijs signed a teenage Neraysho Kasanwirjo for Groningen from Ajax three years ago and soon realised he had a player so gifted he could play four positions.

 

But it’s whether he can perform in the pressure cooker at Rangers that the Dutchman is most interested to see this season. Defender Kasanwirjo made the loan switch from Feyenoord to Ibrox on deadline day as Philippe Clement moved to bolster his backline. The move was too late for the 22-year-old to be thrown in for a baptism of fire in Sunday’s Old Firm thumping at Celtic Park that has seen Rangers fall five points behind the champions after just four games.

 

But Kasanwirjo could well be thrust into the starting XI when under-pressure Clement takes his side to face Dundee United after the international break. And if he is then Buijs will be watching from afar with interest.

 

READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers tipped to repeat Celtic invincible season with Parkhead boss ‘back on’ for 10 in a row

 

READ MORE: Luke McCowan tipped to be Celtic ‘surprise package’ as pundit waxes lyrical and names 2 key traits

He gave the defender his Eredivisie debut for Groningen after signing him from Ajax’s youths three years ago and was so impressed with his ability on the ball he couldn’t take him back out the team. Kasanwirjo went on to make 32 appearances that season and after just 18 months at the Euroborg Stadium was poached by Arne Slot at Feyenoord.

 

Former Kilmarnock defender Buijs, now managing Fortuna Sittard, hopes that experience at the Rotterdam club should have prepared the Netherlands U21 international for the test of mettle he is about to ensure in Govan. He told Record Sport: “I signed Neraysho from Yong Ajax, you could see straight away he had been at Ajax because technically on the ball he was very good even at such a young age.

 

“He had to learn that in professional football there are other important things, physical aspects and that at the higher level it’s more about results than when you play in the youth system at Ajax. But he developed as the season went on.

“Mostly we used Neraysho as a central defender. We played a lot with three central defenders and he had the freedom to join the midfield as well.

 

“He can also play right back, controlling midfielder and even left back when necessary. I must say it was really a big compliment for him that he came at a young age for the first time to the Eredivisie and played 32 games.

 

“On the ball he was really good, calm, could view a good pass. He really gave us a higher level on the ball. That’s his main quality and the most important thing was that he also developed his defending in and around his own box in duals.

 

“He can be strong, he is fast but sometimes back then he needed to read the game better or be more aggressive.

 

“That was three seasons ago. It says a lot that Feyenoord saw enough in him to sign him the next winter. The step from Groningen to Feyenoord is huge. They did amazing under Arne Slot, they became champions of the Netherlands.

 

“So it was difficult for Neraysho to be a first choice player and last year he went and played in Austria for Rapid Vienna on loan. But he now has had a good level of experience for a player who is still young. It will be really interesting to watch his progress at Rangers.”

 

Rangers fans unloaded their fury on Clement and his players outside Ibrox on Sunday evening and that level of stress can break some weaker players.