What a difference a week makes in football, there aren’t too many fans or ex-players shouting about Antonio Colak right now.
With the horror against USG in Belgium, the Croatian wasn’t spared given his minimal impact on that game. He should have scored in Leuven but he wasn’t the only player to have turned in a poor performance. Headlines were captured by Mark Hateley’s derisory description of Colak as a “waste of time”.
With two goals in the last two games for the former PAOK and Malmo striker, the tide of opinion is changing. Sections of Rangers fans will never learn, if a player doesn’t come out of the blocks fast and even after the development of John Lundstram last season, the same nonsense happens.
Important strikes against Kilmarnock and in the return leg against USG have shown exactly what Colak is – a penalty box striker. He won’t be spectacular or all action in the mold of Alfredo Morelos but he is committed and clever with his movement as well as possessing a fine finish.
Combined with the wrongly disallowed goal at Livingston on the opening day of the Premiership season, the start to the Croatian international’s career at Ibrox has been more than acceptable.
One year on from ending a Rangers Champions League campaign at Ibrox, he has now contributed in the club’s favour toward the latest one and will be vying with Alfredo Morelos for the starting slot against PSV next Tuesday. Prior to that, it will be interesting to see who gets the nod up top tomorrow against St Johnstone.
Rangers should look to play with an added attacking emphasis in that game following on from midweek when they had to. The more chances, the more goals are likely and that would be very welcome with the tough PSV test just around the corner.