Sweden boss Janne Andersson has heaped praised on Rangers defender Filip Helander despite his dodgy defending against Benfica in midweek.
The Ibrox star had a night to forget in Portugal on Thursday as he was at fault for two goals in the 3-3 draw.
But Helander has impressed his nation’s boss since arriving in Glasgow from Bologna last summer.
Andersson says the 27-year-old is a vital part of his Sweden squad as they gear up for Euro 2020.
He said: “Filip has had a good season for both the national team and his club Rangers so far. That makes me happy. I first watched Filip as an 18-year-old youngster at Malmo.
“I don’t remember the game very well but I recall my impression being that Filip was a very promising player.
“He’s a reliable defender with a great sense of where to place himself on the pitch.
“Filip’s also a very tough player who won’t bow down.
“I’m really happy that his move to Rangers looks to have been a good step for his career and from what I’ve heard about Steven Gerrard, he’s a great manager.
“I’m sure that he’s had a positive impact on Filip’s development.
“When Filip hasn’t been injured, he has always been part of the squad since I became head coach for the Swedish national team.
“I value him very highly and he has continued to develop as a player since moving
to Rangers.”
Andersson is delighted that Helander is now competing at Europa League level and believes if Rangers could get into the Champions League it wouldn’t just benefit the player but also his country.
The defender follows a long line of Swedes who have been successful in Scotland.
The likes of Henrik Larsson, Johan Mjallby and Joachim Bjorklund have all previously performed well for the Old Firm.
Andersson hinted that he’d like more Swedish players to ply their trade in the Premiership.
He said: “In general, the more matches at a higher and tougher level our Swedish players get to play in, the better for the national team. That’s the case for Filip.
“We want our players at the highest level possible – the Scottish game can be a very good option for them.”
