FASHION Sakala has become a Rangers fans' favourite with a settled ease that few players arriving in Govan have enjoyed. 

Even the likes of Mark Hateley and Ally McCoist were made to work for the crowd's affection so it’s to Sakala’s great credit he’s won over such a tough fanbase.  

It shows that a bright personality and endeavour on the pitch can go a long way because his status as a well-liked player (complete with a nifty song) hasn’t been because of on-pitch exploits. 

The cult status that surrounds the Zambian is reminiscent of another striker that arrived at Ibrox in recent years - Joey Garner. 

An honest as the day is long journeyman striker whose finest moment was arguably a viral video where he slide tackled a Christmas tree, Garner made a name for himself on the back of his ‘fight all comers’ demeanour rather than any discernible talent. 

That’s not the case with Sakala though. The Zambian has shown in flashes he has the quality and skill to be a success. 

What he’s yet to have, is a defining moment or a spell of form that could announce definitively his arrival as a Rangers player. 

Yes, he scored a solid hat-trick at Fir Park but it hasn’t been the juncture he kicked on to become a mainstay, as many hoped. 

Sakala has been in and out ever since, never really letting anyone down but never truly taking ownership of a place on the team. 

You wonder if Giovanni van Bronckhorst truly trusts him, and you can see why that might not be the case. 

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He can be a frustrating player to watch.  

Blessed with explosive pace and good skill, he is one of those players who seems as capable of tripping himself up as producing game-deciding magic. 

Despite his form for Oostende in Belgium last season where he grabbed 16 goals, Sakala is one of those signings that comes into the unpolished diamond category. A project player.  

And you can see why Ross Wilson thought he was worth a punt on a free transfer given his physical and technical gifts. 

Those aren’t in doubt and one thing is certain - if he puts together everything in his armoury, Rangers won’t keep him for long.  

He’s perhaps the fastest player at the club, strong in duels and excellent in the air. 

But at Rangers, you don’t get forever to prove your worth. You have to seize the day.  

Eight goals and two assists in 31 appearances stand as a decent return so far but these are not numbers to blow anyone away. It’s not been great, but it’s been far from a disaster. 

But those numbers look better when you factor in his starts, which are only 11. 

At just 24, Sakala wouldn’t be in Scotland if he was the finished article and while Alfredo Morelos is in situ as a reliable number 9, he has the opportunity to improve while the true pressure to lead from the front falls on another’s shoulders. 

He’s never going to displace Morelos but he’s also got enough about him to be an effective option on either side of the front three. 

Rangers Review:

Sakala’s Stats Bomb radar shows him to be an effective presence with performance levels in the 90th percentile or above for xG, shots, touches in the box and xG/shot. 

He will have to improve his dribbling but still sits in the 82nd percentile for the league. 

With Ryan Kent off the pace for much of the season so far and Amad Diallo looking on the physically slight side for certain games, there’s no reason why Sakala shouldn’t be afforded more of an opportunity to show what he can do. 

Once he gets the chance, he must seize it. You don’t get too many opportunities at Rangers. 

He may have won hearts, but it’s time for him to show he can win minds too.