Ryan Naderi has emerged as an unlikely hero in Rangers' remarkable turnaround, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock that lifted Derek McInnes' side to the top of the Scottish Premiership, a point clear of rivals Celtic.
The win extended Rangers' winning run to six consecutive league matches and seven across all competitions, marking a stark contrast to the start of their domestic campaign, when they collected just one point from their opening two fixtures following an early European exit.
Naderi's brace arrived in the first half, with Rangers racing into a commanding 3-0 lead before Kilmarnock's Nicky Clesenco pulled one back late on. McInnes conceded his side's second-half display fell short of expectations, attributing the dip in intensity to fatigue after a lengthy international break.
"There's a bit of understanding for me where the players have been. This break's been far too long," McInnes said. "But we've got the job done, and credit the players for digging deep and getting three points."
Despite the uneven performance, the result underlined a broader shift in Rangers' fortunes, built on a stingy defense and an increasingly productive attack led by the 23-year-old Naderi. The German-born Czech Republic international has scored three goals in his last two league outings, following his winning strike in a 1-0 triumph over Celtic prior to the international break.
That Old Firm winner was a turning point for Naderi, who had faced skepticism from supporters after joining from German third-tier club Hansa Rostock in February. His first season at Ibrox yielded just a single league goal, alongside two in a League Cup rout of Queen's Park, leading many to question whether he had the qualities to lead the line regularly.
With Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti sidelined through injury, Naderi has seized his opportunity, racking up six goals and three assists this season, several of them decisive. He set up Bojan Miovski's late winner against St Mirren and has also scored crucial goals against Motherwell and Celtic before his double against Kilmarnock.
Former Rangers forward Peter Lovenkrands drew a striking comparison, likening Naderi's unconventional style to that of Germany great Thomas Muller. "Naderi at times does things where you're like 'How did he do that?'" Lovenkrands said on BBC Sportsound. "He reminds me a lot of Thomas Muller - he's not nice on the eye at times, but he creates stuff because he's so unorthodox."
McInnes echoed that sentiment, praising the forward's work ethic and instinctive finishing. "Yes, and fair play to him," the manager said. "He's always such an honest boy, he's willing to put defenders under pressure. I've always felt as a striker that if the ball goes in the box, he'll score his goals. He's not the type of striker that creates a lot for himself, so he needs that service. If we put the ball in the box, as we did in the first half, then he looks a threat. He's had such a good few weeks. Everybody's so pleased for him. We need someone who would regularly be the goalscorer here at the club."
Rangers' defensive record has also been a key factor in their resurgence, having conceded just one goal in their previous five league matches before Kilmarnock's late consolation. Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday noted the club's growing consistency, telling BBC Sportsound that Rangers were "becoming a much more predictable side" under McInnes, built on defensive solidity and chance creation.
With Celtic facing a tricky trip to Motherwell and under pressure to reclaim top spot, Rangers' topping of the table for the first time this season has given fans renewed hope of ending their title drought since 2021.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.