Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland has backed Nigerian central defender Emmanuel Fernandez to win over his critics following a challenging start to his Ibrox career.

Fernandez joined Rangers during the summer transfer window with a reputation as a goalscoring defender but initially struggled for playing time, with injuries further limiting his opportunities.

However, the former Peterborough United defender has climbed the pecking order in recent weeks, benefitting from muscle injuries to John Souttar and Derek Cornelius. 

He has now gone the distance in Rangers' last three matches across all competitions, delivering solid performances. 

Fernandez helped the Light Blues keep a clean sheet against Falkirk and scored his first Premiership goal in the 2-1 win over Livingston.

Speaking after Rangers' goalless draw with Falkirk on Sunday, Butland highlighted that Fernandez’s recent displays suggest that the Super Eagles hopeful is beginning to find his rhythm at Ibrox,

In quotes relayed by Daily Record, he stated: "You've got Manny that's come in and hasn't played a lot of football until recently.

“He's trying to find his feet, he's trying to do the right things and he's learning a lot. So it's a new partnership. I think they've had really good moments and as a group together, we’re adapting and we're changing.

"But it's difficult. A lot of teams tend to have a really settled back four and we've been forced into changes.

"That being said, I think we've kept a clean sheet today. I thought Manny was brilliant, I thought Nasser had a difficult game midweek against Braga."

Emmanuel Fernandez, who has two goals in six all-competition appearances for Rangers., is open to representing the Super Eagles but has yet to be contacted by the Nigeria Football Federation or manager Eric Chelle.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel