Alan Rough scoffs at what he's heard about Dan Neil after Rangers heroics

Dan Neil has really started to win over the Rangers supporters with his recent performances.

Signed on a free transfer from Sunderland in the summer, Neil did not hit the ground running at Ibrox.

However, he has started to show signs of promise in a midfield partnership with Nicolas Raskin in recent weeks.

Neil was particularly influential in the Scottish League Cup triumph over Celtic at Ibrox last weekend.

The midfielder scored twice in the 3-0 victory, which punched their ticket to the semi-finals against Aberdeen next month.

But PLZ Soccer presenter Alan Rough scoffed at one thing he has seen floated around in the past few days.

Dan Neil comparisons to Rangers legend laughed at

Rough was speaking with Herald Sport journalist Stephen McGowan, and veteran report Hugh MacDonald on the PLZ Soccer Show.

MacDonald was speaking about the disparaging reaction Celtic manager Martin O'Neill received online after Rangers' comprehensive win.

When reeling off the different things he had read, McGowan interjected with: "Dan Neil is Barry Ferguson".

His comments received chortles from Rough, and MadDonald, prompting him to add: "He's brilliant, don't get me wrong, I'm not deriding Dan Neil.

"I'm just backing up your point, things flip from there to there in an instant."

Rough then had his say on it, adding: "If you're talking about Dan Neil in a one off, two brilliant goals, fair play to the boy.

"But it's like shopping at Wish, if you're trying to say that he's in any way holding a candle to what Barry Ferguson did as a player."

Dan Neil has to forge his own Rangers path

Look, if you're trying to compare any Rangers midfielder to Barry Ferguson you're on a bit of a hiding to nothing.

He was one of the most successful players in the history of the club, and a true leader of men.

Ferguson won the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, and Scottish League Cup five times each, and was a UEFA Cup runner-up.

Look, there's no reason why any Rangers player should not set their stall out that high, success is an absolute demand of any player who puts on a Gers shirt.

For Neil, though, it is about simply forging your own path. He needs to bring success to Rangers in his own way, and not worry what other people are saying.

Is it a bit daft to compare him to Ferguson this early in his Rangers career? Objectively speaking, yes of course.

But there's no need to be disparaging of him in calling it out as what it is either.