Cyriel Dessers being likened to Mark Hateley, a Rangers legend.

Barry Ferguson acknowledges that when Cyriel Dessers tucked the ball past David Marshall to give Rangers a victory over Hibs, he leaped out of his chair.

After a difficult start to life in Glasgow, the former Ibrox captain is eager for the striker to flourish at Rangers.

Dessers has, nevertheless, contributed three goals and three assists in his previous six league games for the team.

Ferguson has also been pleased by the striker’s perseverance and refusal to give up, even when things haven’t quite clicked for him.

Ferguson is also acquainted with Mark Hateley, a former Rangers striker who endured hardships prior to rising to prominence within the team.

It’s not that Ferguson is comparing Dessers with Hateley; rather, it’s just that both players have taken their time adjusting to life in Glasgow.

Ferguson, who found some amusement in some of CD9’s comments on social media this week, is optimistic that Dessers can continue to succeed at Rangers as long as he keeps getting better and the fans stop making fun of him.

Ferguson said, “I also genuinely do believe there’s a player in there,” in his Daily Record column. Alright, I understand that some will think he’s been hiding it effectively. However, he wouldn’t be the first striker to struggle for a period after relocating to Ibrox to regain his shooting form.

“Mark Hateley is the ideal illustration. During his tenure at Ibrox, the big guy developed into one of the most feared players in all of Europe. However, he endured the same kind of punishment for the majority of his first season in Glasgow as Dessers has been subjected to since August.

“I’m not saying Dessers and Hateley are in the same league either. Even still, the connection makes sense because it took him nearly a full year to become a Rangers center forward.

Hateley didn’t skip a beat at that period, just like Dessers did. Even though he was having difficulty in front of the goal, he wasn’t going to give up without a fight. And everyone is aware of the outcome of it.”

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