NafisaOlwethu Makhanya has wasted little time making an impression at Rangers, with Derek McInnes revealing exactly what caught his eye about the young defender.
The South African centre-back arrived at Ibrox from Philadelphia Union during the summer as part of McInnes’ extensive rebuild.
While Rangers have experienced plenty of changes at the back since the manager’s arrival, Makhanya has quietly established himself as an increasingly important option.
His progress was particularly evident during Thursday night’s Conference League play-off first-leg victory over Jablonec.
Rangers kept a clean sheet despite being reduced to ten men following Cammy Devlin’s controversial red card, with Makhanya playing his part as the Ibrox side protected their narrow 1-0 advantage.
And McInnes believes the defender possesses qualities that can make him extremely valuable to Rangers.
McInnes explains what attracted Rangers to Makhanya
Makhanya arrived in Glasgow after playing in Major League Soccer with Philadelphia Union, meaning he had to adapt quickly to a different footballing environment.
McInnes admitted that the change in style was something Rangers had considered when assessing the defender.
However, the manager believes Makhanya possesses one particular quality that immediately stood out during the club’s scouting process.
«“He’s come from MLS, a different type of football, we’ve seen a lot of games in MLS and it’s slow and pedestrian-like.”»
But that was not enough to put Rangers off.
In fact, McInnes revealed that Makhanya’s ability to defend aggressively and compete physically was one of the main reasons the club wanted him.
«“What we did like about him when we watched him was his ability to go man-for-man, his ability to not lose a foot race.”»
That is a significant compliment from the Rangers boss.
A defender who can handle himself one-on-one
For McInnes, Makhanya’s ability to defend in isolation could prove particularly important.
Rangers want to play with aggression and press opponents high up the pitch, but that approach can leave defenders exposed when possession is lost.
Having a centre-back who is comfortable defending one-on-one and possesses enough pace to recover could therefore be crucial.
Makhanya’s early performances suggest he has already begun adapting to McInnes’ demands.
The clean sheet against Jablonec was particularly encouraging given the circumstances.
Rangers had to defend with ten men for the closing stages, while the Czech side pushed for an equaliser.
The new defender helped the hosts withstand the pressure and take a narrow advantage into the second leg.
McInnes’ rebuild beginning to take shape
Makhanya is one of a large group of new arrivals brought in by Rangers this summer as McInnes attempts to reshape the squad.
The manager has already admitted that there is still plenty of work to do, but performances like Makhanya’s will provide encouragement.
The South African has not needed a lengthy settling-in period.
Instead, he has quickly become part of the defensive picture while Rangers continue to deal with injuries, new partnerships and competition for places.
And if he can continue developing the qualities McInnes highlighted, he could become one of the more intriguing signings of the summer.
The Rangers boss clearly values defenders who are prepared to compete physically, stay with their opponents and recover when exposed.
Makhanya appears to tick all three boxes.
For now, the immediate priority is completing the job against Jablonec.
But beyond that European tie, Rangers supporters may have another reason to be excited about what their new-look defence can become.
McInnes has already seen enough to identify a quality he believes can set Makhanya apart — and his ability to “not lose a foot race” could prove particularly valuable as Rangers look to impose their aggressive style on Scottish football.
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