Gary McAllister explains why multi-million-pound Rangers player has often been overlooked

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The Rangers defender Filip Helander has been used sparingly since his summer move to Ibrox.

Gary McAllister has offered an insight as to why Filip Helander has yet to nail down a place in Steven Gerrard’s Rangers eleven.

Helander was Rangers’ second most expensive summer recruit, after Ryan Kent, costing the Gers around £3.5 million according to Transfermarkt.

But Sunday’s 2-1 win against Motherwell – in which he scored the decisive goal – was only the Swede’s eighth appearance for Rangers, who have flitted between him, Nikola Katic and George Edmundson alongside Connor Goldson this season.

Asked how impressed he was with Helander’s displays against Motherwell and Porto last week, McAllister told the official Rangers Youtube channel: “I think you’re seeing a player that’s obviously got Serie A experience, but also he’s a proven international. You can see that popping out of your screens if you’re watching on TV or if you’re at the games.

“I thought he was outstanding in Portugal, handled [Moussa] Marega really well – a player who’s been linked with a lot of clubs in the Premier League. And then again at the weekend he showed his strengths.”

McAllister, the Rangers assistant manager, added: “We’ve waited. We’ve given him an opportunity to look at our games, to look at the physicality that’s within the league. I think he’s coming to terms with it now.”

Helander played 84 times in the Italian top division, for Hellas Verona and Bologna FC, and has 10 caps for Sweden.

Rangers travel to Ross County on Wednesday, before Sunday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final against Hearts.

Gerrard’s side then have Porto and Livingston to play the following week, at home and away respectively, ahead of November’s international break.