Olwethu Makhanya surprised by snub as Rangers move instantly changes fortunes

Olwethu Makhanya has taken little time to settle into Scottish football with Rangers.

The South Africa international arrived at Ibrox from Philadelphia Union at the end of July.

Rangers are reported to have paid the Major League Soccer side around £3million.

Makhanya has been an instant hit in Glasgow, having already started eight games in all competitions.

Rangers have already been backed to make a big profit on Makhanya, although supporters will hope he sticks around for a while longer yet.

And the 22-year-old's early success with the Gers is also set to benefit him elsewhere.

Olwethu Makhanya makes Scottish Premiership admission

Makhanya has started five of Rangers' six Scottish Premiership matches so far.

After a slow start for the Light Blues, they have finally found their feet under Derek McInnes.

Summer signing Makhanya is partly to thank for that, and it should see him rewarded on the international stage.

Makhanya was never massively rated by ex-South Africa boss Hugo Broos, who named the defender in his World Cup squad but never used him.

With just one cap to his name, Makhanya hopes playing regularly, and indeed starring for, Rangers will now stop him from being snubbed.

"I saw the coaching change as an opportunity for a fresh start in the national team because I always felt like I was overlooked by the previous coach," he told SABC Sport.

Makhanya is expected to be a more regular feature in South Africa's starting line-up going forward.

In the view of the former Stellenbosch player, the Scottish Premiership is the highest quality division he has ever played in.

"I never understood the criticism because all these people probably never actually watched the MLS," he said.

"People that really watch that league will tell you that it's high level football.

"Honestly, if I were to rank them, I'll put the Scottish Premiership first, second is the MLS, and the Betway Premiership [in South Africa] is third."

What does data say about Makhanya's claim?

Opta Analyst recently put together a 'power rankings' of the strongest leagues in the world.

The rankings update regularly, most recently on 16 September, and unsurprisingly has Europe's top five leagues in the top five spots.

The Brazilian league is the best of the rest, so to speak, followed by Belgium, Argentina, Portugal and then the English Championship.

The Scottish Premiership is some way down in 37th place, sandwiched between Peru Liga 1 and the Italian Serie B.

MLS, by comparison, is a fair bit higher in 17th.

The data may not back up what Makhanya has said, then, but hopefully his new manager at international level sees it differently.