Rangers hero admits Ibrox star proved him wrong as Derek McInnes lauded for putting 'an arm around him'

Rangers hero Alan Hutton admitted he’s been proved wrong about Ryan Naderi in recent weeks as the Ibrox striker continues his rich vein of form.

Alarm bells were ringing in Govan earlier in the season when the Light Blues lost hitmen Youssef Chermiti and Lawrence Shankland to long-term injuries. However, since then, along with his partner in crime Kevin Kelsy, Naderi has stepped up to the plate in their absence. His brace in the 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend marked his fifth and sixth goals of the season.

Before his redemption arc, there were doubts from Rangers fans and pundits alike that the newly-capped Czechia international has what it takes to lead the line. Former defender Hutton - who spent six years at Ibrox as a player - was one of those doubters. He reckons the impact of new boss Derek McInnes has helped Naderi’s development.

Speaking alongside fellow pundit Michael Stewart on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club, Hutton said: “I was (doubting Naderi) at the start, if you remember. But Derek McInnes has came in and put an arm around him. We know he likes to play with the two strikers up top. Now Naderi’s getting involved. He always works ever so hard, but now he's adding goals as well and that's what you do to change people's mind on you. To change people’s minds on you, consistent performances are required - and I think that's what he has been doing.

“So it's just about keeping that level up as well played to his strengths, getting the balls into him, putting good crosses into dangerous areas, that's what Derek McInnes wants. He wants likes of (James) Penrice, he's getting up high and swinging deliveries in for his strikers to go and attack. So I wouldn't say I wrote him off, I just didn't think he was maybe at that level, but look he's proven me wrong, he's proven everybody else wrong, but it's about staying at that level now.”

Naderi’s strike partner grabbed the other goal on Saturday - but Killie boss Neil McCann was adamant it should’ve been chalked off for a ‘handball’ in the build-up. However, Hutton believes Kelsy’s goal rightfully stood as there was no definitive evidence to suggest otherwise. He continued: “You can't really tell, can you? I mean the angles aren't great, so I'm not 100% sure, you can't tell anything from there. So unless we've got other angles, it doesn't really look like it. So definitively you can't tell in my opinion.

Former Hearts captain Stewart added: “If you were a betting man, I would say it probably has (hit Kelsy’s hand) - but unfortunately for Killie, I'm not sure that VAR intervene there. Put it this way, had it been the reverse and the decision on the park was that it was a handball and the goal was disallowed, likewise I don't think the referee would have been able to overturn it and give the goal.”

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