Lawrence Shankland says improving Rangers star has been fantastic in training

Rangers headed into the international break with belief restored after a run which has transformed the mood around Ibrox.

Derek McInnes faced early pressure following a difficult start and some painful European results, but his team have answered with six consecutive victories in all competitions, including Scottish Premiership wins over Aberdeen, Falkirk, Motherwell and St Mirren.

REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

The biggest statement came against Celtic.

Rangers won 3-0 at Ibrox in the Premier Sports Cup before claiming a 1-0 league victory at Parkhead a week later. They kept five clean sheets across that impressive six-match run, showing a new level of control and resilience.

Dan Neil has become one of the clearest symbols of the turnaround.

The summer signing arrived from Sunderland with a major reputation but found it difficult to impose himself immediately.

As Rangers struggled for consistency, the midfielder also came under scrutiny from supporters who expected him to take charge of games.

REUTERS/Craig Brough

Everything changed during the first Old Firm meeting.

Neil scored twice in the 3-0 victory, producing two excellent finishes and delivering the sort of commanding display Rangers had been waiting to see.

He then played another important role as McInnes’s side dominated the middle of the pitch at Parkhead.

Lawrence Shankland says Dan Neil has been fantastic in Rangers training

Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Lawrence Shankland says Neil’s improvement was no surprise to his teammates.

The injured Rangers captain has revealed that the midfielder had been showing his quality in training long before his Old Firm breakthrough.

“I was delighted for Dan Neil; I will say that, I was delighted for Dan Neil,” said Shankland at a press conference.

“Obviously he came here with the expectations really big and when things are not going very well, people like to be vocal about it, and they go on about it.

“I think Dan had a bit of a tough run at the start and I felt for him the rewards are, obviously, getting the two goals in the Old Firm, two really, really good finishes.

“It was what I was seeing at training every day and the player that’s in there.

REUTERS/Craig Brough

“It is obviously difficult when you are getting into the arena at Ibrox and it’s so hostile and everybody is kind of pushing for that success.

“It can be difficult at times, and obviously we were getting through a tough moment.

“It was important for him to kind of have a moment like that, and I felt he had really pushed on from there, so he has led the team very well, obviously, and getting two spectacular goals always helps.”

Neil’s partnership with Nico Raskin has helped Rangers become more aggressive and composed through midfield, and the pair were particularly effective across the two victories over Celtic and now look capable of driving the side forward.

Rangers return to action against Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday, when McInnes will demand that the improvement continues.

The next challenge for Neil is to maintain the level which has already made him a training ground standout and an Old Firm hero.