The jeers have turned to cheers. Critics are being silenced and doubters are being won over. In time, the sights and sounds of celebration could become sustained for Cyriel Dessers.

The moment that Dessers’ name was chanted from the away end at Easter Road encapsulated the transformation in fortunes, both individually and collectively, since Philippe Clement’s arrival at Rangers. No player has been debated and discussed as much as Dessers over the course of the campaign but his redemption arc continues. He, like Rangers, is heading in the right direction.

Of the eleven goals that Dessers has scored this term, eight have now come under Clement’s guidance. His latest was one of the best as he produced a wonderful finish to put the seal on a fine victory over Hibernian on Wednesday night. It was a strike that was composed yet clinical, one which he, in all likelihood, would not have converted earlier in the season.

In the seconds after the ball trickled into the net, a chorus of ‘nice one Cyriel’ emerged from the stand behind the goal. The smile on Dessers’ face said it all. He had to savour the goal and the victory, but it carried a greater significance for the Nigerian. There have been times when he has been booed by his own supporters, when his substitution has been sarcastically applauded. He is viewed very differently now.

“It’s not the first time they sang my name, it happened already at Ibrox,” Dessers said. “But obviously it’s a good feeling to hear this, to make them happy with a goal and a big win. I was pleased. What comes before the goal was something we practise a lot during the week where we cover the ball to play the first ball forward. Rabbi did it well. I got into the box and the shot had to move fast because the defender and goalkeeper were coming. I saw them from the corner of my eye. I think it was instinct from a striker to not kick it hard. It was a really slow ball, it was a little tight. But I was happy it went in.

“I have had some songs in the past, of course. Especially at Feyenoord or my other clubs. Like I say, it is a nice thing. I love it if I hear it. It shows that they care, that they like you. I hope to be important for the team, score goals and hopefully we can hear the song a little bit more.”

There were times earlier in the term when it looked doubtful that Dessers would make it to double figures during his first campaign at Ibrox. The 20-goal barrier is now very much in sight, though. If it can be reached, it would go some way to justifying the £4.5million outlay that Michael Beale sanctioned to bring him from Cremonese in the summer.

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There have been questions over Dessers’ quality and contribution at various stages of the season, but his mentality and his robustness cannot be queried. So many of his teammates have fallen foul of the Ibrox injury jinx but 32 appearances mark Dessers out as one of the most reliable players within the squad and he is a rejuvenated, confident figure these days.

Those traits will certainly come in handy in the coming weeks and months. Clement, already without Danilo and Kemar Roofe at present, will be denied the services of Abdallah Sima for the immediate future. The Belgian needs those who can stand up and be counted.

“I don’t think there is more pressure on me, I don’t feel it that way,” Dessers said. “I spoke with the wingers. I said with Abdallah out it’s your time to shine and your chance to pick up his goals. Ross and Rabbi both got an assist against Hibs so that’s only a good thing for the team that other guys fill the gap and perform.

“The pressure is always there at Rangers. It was there at the beginning. I spoke about it with other people, at a certain point you have to embrace the pressure otherwise it kills you. I think that’s what happened with me in the last months. You have to appreciate it. I played with pressure at other clubs. I played at clubs where it doesn’t matter so much if you draw a game or lose a game. But you don’t want that. You want the pressure, you want people who are committed to the club, who care about the club. I like it and I think we should all embrace it.”

Clement was asked about the possibility of further attacking reinforcements ahead of the trip to Easter Road. As he sidestepped the question in now familiar style, he pointed to the contribution of Dessers. That faith was repaid in Leith as the 29-year-old scored within seconds of his introduction.

Clement had opted to hand Fabio Silva his first competitive start since he completed a loan switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Portuguese carries the weight of a reputation and a hefty price tag on his shoulders but Dessers knows the scoring burden will be shared.

“There’s definitely more to come from me,” Dessers said. “I have been growing in the last months, especially since the new gaffer came. You can see I am growing in my stats and my performances. But I think there is still more to come and I hope I can show it in the next weeks and months.

“Competition is always good. The other guys, I hope to see them on the pitch again soon. We have to push each other. We are the strikers and I think it’s the hardest job in the team, but we have to be there for each other and for the team. We have to make each other better and I hope we can all score goals for the team. It will help us win games and that’s why we are here.”

Two goals and two wins from the first two matches after the winter break represent a pleasing return to action for Dessers. For Clement, it has been a job well done over the last week but the Belgian will not allow complacency to set in while he drives standards and raises levels at Ibrox.

READ MORE: Hibs 0-3 Rangers: Analysis as Dessers, Ridvan and Cantwell deliver

Rangers are now just five points adrift of Celtic in the title race after winning the first of their two games in hand. Victory against St Mirren would see the momentum tick over once again but nobody within the staff or squad will be getting ahead of themselves.

“The gaffer has a nice metaphor for it,” Dessers said. “We are not looking at it as a sprint. We are not looking at it like, we have to win this game. We are looking at it as a marathon. Probably in the next months we lose points at one stage, they will probably as well. We don’t have to fixate too much on one game. I think we have to look at the long term and just keep performing week-in-week-out. We will see what happens. With the Hibs game we are indeed getting closer and that is a good thing. Hopefully we can keep the pressure up.

“The confidence is there, we believe in our ability and what we can do. Not technically and tactically, but mentally too. We are a strong team. Even if there is a set-back we can bounce back. That is a good thing there’s a battle for the top spot. We have to enjoy that and keep that going. If we do that we will be very close.”