Pat Nevin puts the brakes on Rangers hype over blossoming star with timely Scottish football warning

Pat Nevin has urged caution over the growing excitement surrounding Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya - warning that comparisons with some of the game’s leading centre-backs are premature.

The South African has made an encouraging start to his Ibrox career since arriving from MLS side Philadelphia Union over the summer, helping to shore up a Rangers defence that has displayed significant signs of improvement.

His performances have prompted increasingly lavish praise, with some observers drawing parallels with John Stones and former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk, who went on to establish himself among the world’s elite after spells at Southampton and Liverpool.

Nevin, though, believes such comparisons risk getting ahead of themselves. While acknowledging Makhanya’s promising start, the former Scotland international insists the 22-year-old needs time to prove himself over the course of a full Scottish campaign.

Speaking to CasinoHawks, Nevin said: “People have been getting a bit carried away. I’ve heard the words ‘John Stones’, I’ve heard the words ‘Virgil van Dijk’. Look, it’s early days. It’s really, really early. But, yeah, he does look as if he is one of the answers that they needed at the moment.”

Nevin insists defender still has plenty to prove

Nevin also highlighted the unique demands of Scottish football, explaining that even players with strong pedigrees can require time to adjust to the intensity and unpredictability of the game north of the border.

Reflecting on his own experience of returning to Scotland towards the end of his playing career, he admitted he had underestimated how challenging the transition would be.

“I remember coming back up near the end of my career and thinking, ‘This’ll be all right, this’ll be easy. I’ve been playing at the top level in England,’ he said. “Then you thought, ‘Is anyone going to slow down for a minute? Is anyone actually going to go and make intelligent, different runs?’ Or it was just mad.”

Nevin reckons the relentless pace and distinctive style of Scottish football can present a difficult adjustment, making Makhanya’s seamless introduction all the more encouraging And despite his reservations about the growing hype, the pundit believes he could provide an important foundation for Derek McInnes to build upon.

He added: “It’s extreme up here. It’s a different type of football. But he seems to have just walked into it, cruised into it. “At the moment, yeah, he looks like one of the ones Derek McInnes is going to build the base from.”

Real test for Makhanya lies ahead over gruelling Scottish season

Nevertheless, the pundit warned that Makhanya’s true credentials will be tested as the season progresses, particularly during the demanding winter schedule, when conditions and mounting pressure can expose weaknesses.

Nevin pointed out that maintaining consistency over an entire domestic campaign is a different proposition from producing an impressive run of early performances.

“But, yeah, hold on, just give it a while,” he continued. “You know, the winter is coming. A lot of players find it different and difficult over the entirety of a Scottish season, especially when there’s one or two mistakes or things go badly.”

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