Glen Kamara embracing Rangers dangerous side as Mixu Paatelainen hails flourishing Finn's development

Mixu Paatelainen still remembers his first impression of Glen Kamara - a gifted Gunner who was reluctant to pull the trigger.

Now seven years on, the former Finland boss is delighted to see the Rangers midfielder finally raiding enemy territory looking to scope out opportunities to hurt rivals.

It was back in 2015 that Paatelainen handed the then Arsenal academy kid his first call up to the Finns’ national team.

His ability on the ball and eye for a pass was as obvious then as they are today.

Where Paatelainen did have concerns though, was whether Kamara had the assassin’s cold heart and deep desire to really take aim when he had opponents at his mercy.

That’s changed this season with his emergence as a new option in the No.10 role for club and country.

And it’s a switch Paatelainen believes will only underline his status as a high-calibre operator.

The former Hibs, Kilmarnock and Dundee United gaffer told Record Sport : “Glen was always a kid I had my eye on when I was the national team boss.

“I actually invited him to a training camp one summer for some of our players who played abroad because I wanted to have a closer look at him.

“Even then he was somebody I thought might have a good chance of breaking into the full national team.

“What was visible right away was his technical ability and his eye for a pass.

“Obviously, with him being an Arsenal youth product that was no surprise because those guys at that club are always technically good.

“But in those early days when he moved to Dundee, I thought he was a bit tame in his passing.

“Now though, he’s got that bit of spite in his forward passing and he’s now a much more dangerous prospect and someone who is really capable of winning games for Rangers and