RANGERS legend Barry Ferguson has leapt to the defence of striker Antonio Colak as he slammed "unfair stick" against the summer signing.
Croatian international Colak, 28, joined Rangers from PAOK ahead of the new season as Giovanni van Bronckhorst looked to bolster his attacking options.
The striker made his debut in the opening league game of the season against Livingston and was involved in the first-leg loss to Union Saint-Gilloise days later.
Colak came under some criticism after the performances - and without a goal to his name at that point.
However, since then he's scored four times in as many games with Ferguson convinced he's justified his place in the team having netted so often after only "six proper chances".
Ferguson reckons Colak was starved of service in his opening matches leading to some "unfair stick" and so the Ibrox hero was thrilled to see the striker "shut up" some critics.
It was always going to be a tough ask to compete with Alfredo Morelos for a starting spot in the line-up, but for Ferguson it's a no-brainer for Colak to start against PSV Eindhoven in the second-leg.
In his Daily Record column, Ferguson commented: "The guys coming in will only have one chance to prove they deserve the nod in Eindhoven so they have to take it. One man who I think has already justified his selection for the second leg is Antonio Colak.
"He’s taken a bit of unfair stick if you ask me. I know patience is in scarce supply here in Glasgow but it’s unfair to be judging a guy two games in, especially when he was largely starved of service against Livi and over in Belgium in the game with Union Saint-Gilloise.
"OK, he doesn’t link up to the same extent that Alfredo Morelos does but he’s a different kind of player and what he does do is put the ball in the back of the net. I’m delighted for the big man after the way he’s shut up a few of his critics.
"The move that produced his goal the other night was slick and sublime but his first-time finish was just as good as the stuff Tom Lawrence, Steven Davis and James Tavernier produced in the build-up. I reckon he’s probably only had six proper chances since joining the club and he’s scored four of them.
"He’s got Morelos breathing down his neck so he needs to keep it up but I’m so impressed by what he’s done so far.
"Obviously the team has had to adjust to his style as they’d have been so used to just banging the ball up to the Buffalo when they’re under pressure.
"Colak isn’t anywhere near as affective as an out ball in that sense so they will have to come up with a solution."
Ferguson relates the difference between Morelos and Colak's playing styles to one he experienced in his time at Ibrox with Michael Mols and Jonatan Johansson in the squad.
He added: "We had something similar during my time at the club. We had Mikey Mols, who was so good technically and would always take the ball in no matter how much pressure he was under.
"But we also had Jonatan Johansson who wasn’t quite as good when it came to holding up play. But what he could do was turn defences and it was just about making sure we played to his strengths.
"Gio’s side will have to do the same with Colak. They know he thrives on balls into the box so I’d be making sure first chance the guys get to deliver into the danger zone in Eindhoven they take it."
