Ross Wilson has tipped Scott Arfield in the Scottish Herald to make a huge impact at Rangers this season.
The Southampton director of football operations rejected the same role at Ibrox earlier this year to pave the way for Mark Allen to take over and bring in new manager Steven Gerrard.
Ex-Falkirk player Wilson admitted turning down Rangers was a tough decision but has been impressed by the recruitment this summer and named Arfield as one who can achieve great things.
“I’ve known Scotty a long time,” said Wilson to the Herald. “The two of us went to Falkirk on the same day and have been great mates ever since. We popped up again together at Huddersfield during our time there, we lived just next to each other and we are still in touch.
“He is a magnificent lad who worked incredibly hard at the Falkirk academy to get into Falkirk team and play as many games as he had,” Wilson added. “He was a huge success for us, playing in cup finals and the like, he was brilliant for us in that respect. But having worked ever so hard to get there he kept doing the same things in England.
“It didn’t always work out for him at Huddersfield – with different managers, before and during my time. But both Brian Rice and myself both recommended Scott to Sean Dyche at Watford, I remember speaking about how good a character he was.
“Some people might say he will stroll Scottish football but Scott just isn’t that type. No matter where he is, he will work ever so hard and however well he does will be determined by that. That is just the type of boy he is.”
OPINION
Of the 11 Rangers summer signings, Arfield has not made the same immediate impact as, say, Connor Goldson, Lassana Coulibaly or Nikola Katic. But the player recruited on a free transfer after his Burnley contract had expired in the summer is a very shrewd capture. His early arrival on a four-year contract reported by Football Insider to be worth £25,000-a-week, set the tone for an impressive summer of trading marked by its decisiveness and ambition. It has been in stark contrast to the caution and complacency of Celtic, which has left them facing the first real crisis of Brendan Rodgers’ reign. Arfield is a midfielder proven in the Premier League, Championship as well as the SPL, and his experience, energy, class and goalscoring add a new dimension to a team that was found wanting in the middle of the pitch last season. The Canada international has not returned to Scotland just for a big payday. He looks like he means business.