Credit: Imago

Jack Dawson

Tue 24 March 2026 8:00, UK

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Ryan Naderi put in his best performance in a Rangers shirt yet on Saturday in the 4-1 victory over Aberdeen.

The attacker was brought in during the winter transfer window, but has had a slow start at Ibrox.

However, against the Dons, he was one of the best players on the field and provided a crucial assist during the victory.

As a result, this helped the Gers move up to second in the table, and are just three points off Heart of Midlothian at the summit.

Now, Football Insider has assessed why the 22-year-old could be vital to Rangers’ title charge.

Ryan Naderi ran the show in Rangers vs Aberdeen

While Naderi may not have gotten among the goals yet, in recent weeks, he has sprung to life.

After an impressive display against St Mirren, he kept his place in the starting lineup for the Aberdeen match and rewarded Danny Rohl with a fantastic performance.

📈 A standout all-round performance from Ryan Naderi against Aberdeen. pic.twitter.com/EyDKMqUM38

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 23, 2026

According to Fotmob on 23 March, on top of his assist, he had one shot, created one chance, had three touches in the opposition’s box and completed two recoveries.

As a result, he added an extra dimension to the attack and caused problems for the Dons both offensively and defensively.

This could be crucial for the title race, especially post-split, as his confidence is clearly growing.

If he can then add goals to his game, Naderi could prove to be the difference between winning the Scottish Premiership.

Are Rangers now favourites for the Scottish Premiership title?

While ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness previously labelled Celtic as the title favourites to Football Insider before the weekend, the club’s recent defeat to Dundee United has severely damaged these hopes.

As a result, it is highly unlikely that the Hoops finish top of the table, especially given their issues up top.

In comparison, Rangers have quickly bounced back from their Scottish Cup defeat and are scoring goals for fun.

With Hearts looking less than convincing in recent weeks, arguments could now be made that Rangers are the favourites, especially as they will be playing the Edinburgh side post-split.

However, Rohl must ensure he wins his next two fixtures, as they cannot afford a slip-up against either Dundee United or Falkirk.