Jason Holt may not be a fans favourite but his excellent performance against Aberdeen showed exactly why he is a key man in Pedro Caixinha’s Rangers XI.
If Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha is determined to instil his infamously attacking approach at Ibrox, sorting out the defence should ironically be one of the first priorities on his ticklist.
After all, the very best attacking sides can fly forwards knowing that they there is at least one dependable team-mate behind them holding the fort. And Caixinha, a pupil of Jose Mourinho, will have learned this from experience.
And while it is a little over-dramatic to suggest that Jason Holt could be Rangers’ own Claude Makelele, it appears that the 24-year-old may be asked to fulfil a similar function in Caixinha’s side.
After all, the former Hearts youngster has started and finished each of the Portuguese’ four Scottish Premiership games thus far. And while he is unlikely to grab the headlines any time soon, Holt continues to go about his business in typically tenacious fashion.
Kenny Miller will rightly earn the plaudits for a clinical double in the space of just two minutes as Rangers flexed their muscles in a 3-0 win at Aberdeen but Holt’s contribution should not be underappreciated or underestimated.
Rangers did an excellent job preventing The Dons from wreaking havoc in wide areas, with Holt constantly shuttling across to help out his full backs and close down passing lanes. In fact, with his tireless running and perpetual hassling and harrying of Derek McInnes’ side, the former Scotland Under-21 international will have only enhanced his reputation under Caixinha.
He may have suffered the brunt of many supporters’ criticism in the goalless stalemate with Kilmarnock in midweek but, after the club’s best performance of the season at Pittodrie, there can be no doubt whatsoever as to how and why Holt retained his place in the starting XI.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
