Neraysho Kasanwirjo profiled as mentor lifts lid on key qualities of Rangers new boy who can play 4 positions

Danny Buijs signed a teenage Neraysho Kasanwirjo for Groningen from Ajax three years ago and soon realised he had a player so gifted he could play four positions.

But it’s whether he can perform in the pressure cooker at Rangers that the Dutchman is most interested to see this season. Defender Kasanwirjo made the loan switch from Feyenoord to Ibrox on deadline day as Philippe Clement moved to bolster his backline. The move was too late for the 22-year-old to be thrown in for a baptism of fire in Sunday’s Old Firm thumping at Celtic Park that has seen Rangers fall five points behind the champions after just four games.

But Kasanwirjo could well be thrust into the starting XI when under-pressure Clement takes his side to face Dundee United after the international break. And if he is then Buijs will be watching from afar with interest.

He gave the defender his Eredivisie debut for Groningen after signing him from Ajax’s youths three years ago and was so impressed with his ability on the ball he couldn’t take him back out the team. Kasanwirjo went on to make 32 appearances that season and after just 18 months at the Euroborg Stadium was poached by Arne Slot at Feyenoord.

Former Kilmarnock defender Buijs, now managing Fortuna Sittard, hopes that experience at the Rotterdam club should have prepared the Netherlands U21 international for the test of mettle he is about to ensure in Govan. He told Record Sport: “I signed Neraysho from Yong Ajax, you could see straight away he had been at Ajax because technically on the ball he was very good even at such a young age.

“He had to learn that in professional football there are other important things, physical aspects and that at the higher level it’s more about results than when you