Todd Cantwell’s short career at Ibrox has been a story of defying expectations.

When links first emerged his numbers and circumstances were held in opposition. No goals in 18 months? A downward trajectory at Norwich? Was this really the sure bet Michael Beale needed to base his rebuild around? Would he stand up to the physical demands of Scottish football and ‘get’ what playing for Rangers really means?

All such concerns have quickly been put to bed. Cantwell seeks out hard work rather than shying away from it and, as self-acknowledged during his unveiling at the club, stereotypes have long followed him without any basis of truth throughout his career. Having so clearly bought into the club from the off, Cantwell’s become a symbol of the new dawn Beale’s seeking to usher in. When was the last time a new signing so unanimously excited the Rangers support?

After first arriving, he thrived in a slightly deeper midfield role, normally operating behind Malik Tillman. Possessing the discipline to defend and, crucially, contribute offensively from the midfield three, Cantwell very quickly made that position previously occupied by Tillman his own. Excelling in 4-1 victories away at Easter Road and Fir Park.

Injuries suffered by Ryan Kent and Tillman following the Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final presented new demands. The onus was now on Cantwell to occupy the No.10 slot and bring numbers to the attack. Goals against St Mirren, Aberdeen and Celtic have followed.

“I think he’s a very interesting player close to the number nine. But I also think he’s a very interesting player a little bit deeper on the pitch, certainly when playing against a low block because he’s able to bring the ball and connect the midfield and the forwards,” Beale said at the very start of Cantwell’s Ibrox career, a statement that looks healthy in hindsight.

READ MORE: The making of Todd Cantwell: Rangers' football-mad maverick's origins

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It begs the question, what is the January arrival’s best position going forward and where will he play next season?

The answer – it's his role that matters more, right at the heart of the side.

“Wherever the ball was, he was trying to get it, that’s why we played him in centre-midfield. Todd would often be in different areas of the pitch trying to win the ball back,” Cantwell’s former Norwich City coach Jimmy Unwin told the Rangers Review recently when discussing the player’s youth career.

“I played him in the centre of midfield as much as possible, so he'd be on the ball. The main information for him was to go and get the ball off the defence and then try and make us play, knitting the units together. He’d be the one taking the ball off the centre-backs and then breaking the back line.

“For me, he'd stagnated a little bit in his career because he's not played as a No.10 and has been moved wide instead. Playing in the middle suits him down to the ground.”

Cantwell is at his best when the game is around him and he can operate at its heart.

Take a match like last Saturday for context. Lining up at the tip of midfield and very much in the front three, Cantwell was operating right in the heart of the action. Initiating the press, spearheading attacking moves and providing a quality that otherwise lacked towards the front end of the pitch. This was his game and the tactical instructions handed out were conducive to the performance that would follow.

Starting the move and scoring the first, regaining the ball and driving his team forward in the lead-up to the second and then setting up Fashion Sakala by way of a tackle for the third. The former England U21 international dominated on and off the ball.

Take a look at his defensive actions alongside the already outlined attacking impact in last Saturday’s Old Firm. Cantwell was successful in 25 of his 36 involvements, winning the ball high up to assist Sakala’s third alongside helping out in the right-back area.

Scottish Premiership matches will rarely resemble the high-octane energy of a meeting with Celtic and perhaps, this is when Cantwell’s ‘position’ should change even if the role fulfilled shouldn't.

In such encounters, he can start deeper, take the ball off the defence and knit together attacks, therefore fulfilling the same role in a different position. Still at the very heart of all his side do but with a position adapted to the demands and context of a differing game state.

Players who can fulfil different functions are huge assets to their managers. And, especially in Beale’s fluid attacking system, flexibility is key. The manager wants his forwards to pick up the ball in varied positions and remain unpredictable.

Not only is Cantwell thriving because of the freedom handed to him, but he’s also excelling due to the responsibility placed upon him.

Quite clearly this is a player who needs expectation to reach his potential and at Rangers, Beale’s quickly established that whatever Cantwell’s position, whether playing off the No.9 or deeper in the pitch, his role must stay the same - at the very centre of all Rangers do.