Ryan Naderi's scoring form has drawn high praise from Rangers legend Mark Hateley, who believes the striker can become a key figure for the club. Naderi has scored five goals in his last six matches, a run that has helped propel Rangers to second place in the Premiership standings on 27 points.
Hateley, a former Ibrox striker, publicly backed the 23-year-old this week. He drew a comparison to his own playing style and highlighted Naderi's work ethic. "He is that centre-forward, playing through the middle, basically causing chaos," Mark Hateley said. The club great added that he sees similarities between Naderi and his younger self, describing the player as a hardworking natural talent. Hateley elaborated.
Opportunity seized
Naderi's increased involvement has come with first-choice forwards Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti unavailable due to injury. He has taken his chance, with his nine goals this season making him a vital part of the attack. His penalty against St Mirren last Saturday opened the scoring in a 2-0 win, a result that extended Rangers' unbeaten run to five games. The team's form reads three wins and two draws from that sequence, keeping them within four points of leaders Celtic.
With six goals in 11 appearances, Naderi is currently the team's top scorer this season. His contribution is part of a broader offensive output that has seen Rangers score 21 league goals. The team faces Motherwell away on 21 November in their next fixture, a match where Naderi will aim to maintain his scoring touch. Hateley emphasised the importance of Naderi's role in the title race, stating his form is key for the team's ambitions.
Naderi joined Rangers from German side Hansa Rostock, and his adaptation to Scottish football is now yielding clear rewards. The striker's continued development offers a significant boost as Rangers pursue the Premiership title, with the club's attacking squad statistics significantly bolstered by his recent contributions.
Background and full detail: bbc.com
