Rangers full-back Max Aarons believes Djeidi Gassama will put fear in the hearts of opposing defenders throughout this season.
Named as a substitute against Panathinaikos despite scoring in the first leg, Gassama made an instant impact from the bench with a flashing strike to square the game in Athens on Wednesday and secure Rangers’ progression to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
A £2.2million signing from Sheffield Wednesday, the 21-year-old already looks to be the standout among the seven players manager Russell Martin has brought in so far.
Aarons, who played in both full-back positions in the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night, feels his new team-mate will already be on the minds of his defensive rivals in the Scottish Premiership.
‘If I was playing right-back for the opposition and I see him get ready to warm up at 60, 70 minutes, with all his youth and enthusiasm and his pace and ability, I really wouldn’t want that,’ said the 25-year-old Englishman.
‘Obviously, he’ll want to be starting games, but to have him at the moment in these two games coming on and making the impact that he is, it’s amazing for him.
Djeidi Gassama celebrates his vital goal for Rangers in 1-1 draw with Panathinaikos in Athens
Striker Gassama, above left, is congratulated by team-mates Nico Raskin and Danilo
Rangers Max Aarons, above right, takes on Filip Duricic during the European clash in Greece
‘I was pleasantly surprised at the ability I’ve seen from him in training and games now and, as a player that’s a bit older now, I’ll try to help him to really shine and perform for us this season. All his team-mates will.
‘I think he can have a great year. I’m really, really excited by him as a player.’
Rangers now face Viktoria Plzen in the next round with the first leg at Ibrox on Tuesday and the return in the Czech Republic a week later.
Plzen finished a distant second behind Slavia Prague in their league last season and reached the last 16 of the Europa League, where they lost to Lazio.
This week’s result in Greece means Martin’s side are guaranteed European group-stage football until Christmas, but Aarons is adamant that the sole focus is clearing two more hurdles and qualifying for the Champions League.
‘The manager spoke about it before. Coming to this club, you have to really respect that you’re going to hopefully be part of big competitions and big European nights and we have to earn that,’ added Aarons.
‘Nights like this give you that confidence that this team can suffer at times and dig in and come through it.
‘We want to go as far as we can now. I definitely came here because I believe this team can make the Champions League. That’s got to be the ultimate goal, doing it the way we want and the way we want to play.’
