Why Sunderland legend is spot on with Dan Neil prediction at Rangers
The 24-year-old became Rangers' fifth signing of the summer at the beginning of this month.
Snapped up on a free transfer following the expiration of his Sunderland contract, he joins a deep and competitive central midfield group at Ibrox.
Neil helped Sunderland rise from English football's third tier (League One) all the way to the Premier League, and is a boyhood Black Cats supporter.
As such, his leaving Wearside will be tough for him, but now his full focus will be on the fantastic opportunity he's been given in Glasgow.
But, like any new Rangers signing, Neil's big test will come when the boots and tackles start flying in the Old Firm derby.
Why Kevin Phillips has upmost Dan Neil confidence at Rangers
Undoubtedly one of the biggest derbies in world football, there's nothing quite like the Old Firm.
There's no hiding place in that fixture, separating those players who can't handle the heat from those who can.
Being a central midfielder, this department is often where the most fierce battles take place on derby day in Glasgow, and so the spotlight will be shining even brighter on Neil when he makes his Old Firm debut.
However, Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips isn't worried one bit about whether Rangers' new recruit will step up to the mark in the fixture.
Speaking via the Daily Record, Phillips said: "I think his experience of playing in those clashes (Sunderland vs Newcastle) will certainly ensure Dan is used to the noise and the passion.. These games in the North East are intense. The atmosphere is incredible.
"I think he'll relish it (playing in the Old Firm). He's that type of player. He'll take it on his shoulders, he’ll look forward to it.
"He will make a tackle. No shadow of a doubt. He will get stuck in, but that's not what he's renowned for.
“He's more renowned for scoring goals and getting in the box. He is a box-to-box player, technically very, very good, can handle the ball in high-pressure situations, and his turnovers, he very rarely loses the ball, and he can travel with it.
"So I think it's going to be more of a technical aspect of his game that he'll bring to the football club.
"Not that hard crunching, but nevertheless, he still will get stuck in for sure.”
Neil certainly will get stuck in for Rangers, with his Championship stats for Sunderland providing strong evidence that he's made for the Old Firm derby stage.
Neil among Championship's best for key Old Firm ingredients
During his time with Sunderland, Neil spent three seasons playing Championship football at the Stadium of Light between 2022-2025.
As per FotMob, in his final 2024-25 campaign at that level, his 252 recoveries and 63 clearances ranked him in the top 2.5 percentile of defensive midfielders in England's second tier that term.
Meanwhile, he also won 81 tackles, made 46 interceptions, won 53 fouls, 208 duels and completed 40 successful dribbles respectively: all of which were among the best in his position.
In 2023-24, he ranked in the leading 2.3 per cent of his positional rivals for his 28 possessions won in the final third, whilst also winning 74 tackles, 235 recoveries and 187 duels respectively.
Finally, his 215 duels won and 102 tackles made saw him place in the top 3.4 and 4.8 percentiles among his defensive midfield peers in 2022-23.
Neil's 242 recoveries, 47 interceptions, 48 fouls won and 20 possessions won in the final third that year show that he's been among the Championship's very best in his position defensively during his time in that division.
The vast majority of Rangers fans have been excited by his acquisition anyway, but armed with this evidence and Phillips' testimony, he's going to have no issue rising to the Old Firm occasion.