It took just five minutes for Amad Diallo to introduce himself as a Rangers player. Indeed, Saturday’s Scottish Premiership fixture between the defending champions and Ross County had barely kicked off when the Ivorian teenager, who had arrived in Glasgow only 24 hours previously, found the back of the net.

Some Manchester United fans surely watched Diallo’s Rangers debut with interest. After all, the 19-year-old has only made three Premier League appearances for the Old Trafford club despite joining from Atalanta 12 months ago. Highly rated by United’s coaching and recruitment staff, Diallo is still something of an unknown quantity.

He will become a lot more known north of the border where Diallo is expected to be a key figure for Rangers in a title race that could go the distance. The winger’s debut in Dingwall, where he played a role in Rangers’ third goal in a 3-3 draw, offered a hint at the role he could play for Giovani van Bronckhorst’s side between now and May.

“You could see his quality,” van Bronckhorst said after Diallo’s debut. “I mean he made the first goal, he was very good in the space in the second post, you could see what he can give to the team. He’s got the talent but we had to take him off because he didn’t have the rhythm like other players. Overall, was a good performance by him but in the end, we are disappointed with the draw.”

How he fits in

Under van Bronckhorst, and even before the Dutchman’s arrival at Ibrox, Rangers have been guilty of slow, ponderous play in the attacking third. Diallo’s signing could be an antidote to this with the on-loan Manchester United winger quick to take on opponents with his close control and direct running. He could give Rangers a different dimension.

The injury suffered by Ianis Hagi, which will keep the Romanian sidelined until the end of the season, robbed Rangers of an element of unpredictability. It’s likely this forced the Ibrox club into the transfer market to find a solution, even if the one they stumbled upon is only temporary.

That Rangers have looked to the loan market for an instant injection of individual quality says a lot about the pressure being applied on them from the other side of Glasgow. Celtic can go top of the Scottish Premiership with a victory in Wednesday’s Old Firm derby. This would represent a significant turnaround from the early stages of the 2021/22 campaign when everything pointed towards Rangers retaining their league crown.

Not the only signing

Aaron Ramsey’s deadline deal signing on loan from Juventus is another short-term measure that could keep Rangers as Scottish football’s predominant force. If fit, the Welshman will give van Bronckhorst a sharper goalscoring edge in midfield, something that could help Rangers break down deep-lying opponents.

Long term view

Diallo, however, is the player who will get Rangers fans off their seats. Manchester United have sent the Ivorian north of the border to toughen up in more than one way. Not only will Diallo face some rough treatment, which should prepare him for life in the Premier League, he will gain experience in what it’s like to play for a team expected to win week-in-week-out.

Birmingham City and Derby County wanted Diallo on loan while the Eredivisie was also mentioned as a potential destination last summer, but Rangers is a more suitable place for the Ivorian to be at this early stage of his career. At Ibrox, pressure could forge a diamond. Manchester United are counting on it and vindication will come if Diallo helps Rangers keep their Scottish Premiership crown.

Scottish Premiership Winner market