Back in a Rangers shirt for the first time since November, Neraysho Kasanwirjo wasted little time making his mark.
In a low-key Glasgow Cup final at Firhill, the Dutch defender showed sharp instincts to break the deadlock - pressing high, continuing his run, and pouncing on a loose ball as Celtic failed to clear. The finish was emphatic, but more importantly, it marked a major milestone in what’s been a gruelling recovery from knee surgery.
Kasanwirjo’s last Rangers appearance came on November 10, 2024. Just days later, while on international duty with the Netherlands Under-21s, a serious knee injury struck.
Surgery followed, and so did months of uncertainty. At one point, there were genuine concerns he wouldn’t feature again this season. But nearly six months on, his name is back on the team-sheet - albeit with the club's youth squad for now.
“It was really enjoyable to have him in our group,” Rangers Under-18 coach Steven Smith told reporters after the final whistle.
“He was excellent. I loved having him in the training group yesterday. He brought a voice, he brought a presence. I thought he performed really well in the game for his first game back in nine, ten months.”
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Kasanwirjo’s goal had put Rangers in front, but Celtic levelled through Rhys Dargie to force penalties after a tense 1-1 draw.
From there, Rangers held their nerve, winning the Glasgow Cup 5-4 in the shootout to seal silverware on the night.
The loan move from Feyenoord had promised plenty for Kasanwirjo. Rangers saw enough potential to include a purchase option in the deal, confident that the former Ajax academy graduate - brought to Rotterdam by current Liverpool boss Arne Slot - could settle and grow into a key player.
Internally, there was belief that Kasanwirjo and John Souttar could form a first-choice partnership at the heart of the Rangers defence.
Instead, just as he was finding his stride, injury brought progress to a halt. The 45 minutes he received at Firhill may have come in a youth competition, but they mattered. For Kasanwirjo, it was a return to doing what he came to Glasgow to do.
Whether Rangers choose to activate the clause in his deal remains unlikely at this stage, with limited first-team involvement and the end of the season and significant off-field changes fast approaching.
But what Kasanwirjo has now - finally - is a platform. His recovery has been well managed, and with a full pre-season ahead, the 23-year-old will hope this cameo marks the restart rather than the end.
