Ridvan Yilmaz has endured a frustrating debut season at Rangers, but his performance against Celtic on Saturday provided optimism for the future. 

Ridvan was routinely overlooked by Giovanni van Bronkchorst before picking up a serious hamstring injury that kept him out for several months over the winter.

But the 21-year-old has been handed the opportunity to impress across the season's final weeks and produced his best performance for Rangers on Saturday, in a convincing 3-0 win against Celtic.

The club invested a significant fee to sign Ridvan from Besiktas - the total package could exceed £5million if add-ons are met - and his transfer has been routinely highlighted as an example of the poor recruitment Ross Wilson led last summer. 

Whilst it’s understandable that Ridvan's signing has drawn criticism, it’s also imperative to acknowledge that the Old Firm win was only his seventh start of the season.

Left-back is an area of the pitch where Michael Beale could strengthen in the summer with Borna Barisic entering the last year of his contract. And against Celtic, Ridvan stated his case to be part of the rebuild. 

Beale’s deployment of Ryan Jack and John Lundstram on either side of the single-pivot Nicolas Raskin allowed both full-backs the freedom to get forward and join the attack.

"Lundstram and Jack can allow our two full-backs to really go. [They can] be aggressive in midfield and press,” the manager confirmed pre-match. 

This plan was implemented successfully in the first half as evidenced by Rangers’ passing network. On the right side, James Tavernier attacked the box and on the left, Ridvan overlapped to provide width when necessary. 

The Turkish international repeatedly received possession high up the pitch on the left wing and rather than funnelling the ball backwards back, a criticism often levelled at Barisic, was willing to take on his marker and think forwards.

After receiving the ball from Raskin in this frame, the defender faints to pass before knocking the ball beyond a static Anthony Ralston and crossing. His acceleration over the first few yards caught the eye throughout. 

When Rangers were attacking, the defender repeatedly took up a position high on the left, which simultaneously forced Liel Abada back, negating his attacking influence. 

The summer arrival showed great energy and determination to join the attacking play and regularly embarked on overlapping runs to provide a wide option, making the move around Rabbi Matondo in the clip below. 

Admittedly, the left-back's crossing was quite erratic and he failed to capitalise on some promising attacking positions. In mitigation, there wasn't a plethora of options to hit in the box aside from Tavernier's back post runs.

Whilst Ridvan's attacking positions were encouraging, it was his defensive ability that stood out most obviously. 

Question marks have lingered over his one-on-one capabilities but Ridvan was very aggressive against Abada and kept the Israeli winger quiet. 

Abada has caused Rangers, and Barisic, significant problems in the past, including a double in the 4-0 defeat at Parkhead this season. Arguably, the best approach to negate Celtic's threats is stopping them at source - whether that be pressing high or engaging duels as early as possible.

Yilmaz pressed Abada intensely and rarely allowed the dangerous winger to receive possession without pressure. 

As Carl Starfelt passes the ball out to Abada in this example, Ridvan immediately recognises that the pass lacks pace and flies up to intercept possession with a forceful challenge, something that will always appease the crowd on Old Firm day.

He then demonstrated impressive energy levels to burst forward and provide an option for Sakala. 

The Zambian, however, didn’t maximise the opportunity by driving inside to create space for an overlap.

Ridvan maintained this pressure on Abada in the second half. Below, he steals the ball off the Celtic man high up on the left side, allowing Rangers to launch an attack in an advanced area instead of backing off and allowing Abada to receive possession. 

Throughout, he was successful (red) with 30 of his 34 defensive actions. Many of which occurred high up in the defensive half.

The youngster also started against Aberdeen on the previous weekend and on this occasion, another one of his treats was noticeable, underlapping runs. 

On a number of occasions - both in and out of possession - the left-back showed a willingness to drive infield and occupy the inside zones.

Here, Ridvan inverts with the ball and two Aberdeen players are unable to match his run as he ends up progressing through the thirds.

After playing the ball to Ianis Hagi in this example, Ridvan immediately recognises the space vacated by Aberdeen’s right centre-back stepping out and continues his run.

Quick interplay and movement are integral to breaking down a low defensive block. If Rangers can count on their left-back to offer that going forwards, the signs are positive, especially once on-pitch relationships have been properly established. 

While his data sample size remains too small to form definitive opinions, two things stand out upon comparison with Barisic. Higher interception stats and more successful dribbles. 

It's this proactive defensive approach and varied attacking threat that's caught the eye so far.

The left-back situation will be one to keep an eye on this summer, but Ridvan has the opportunity to continue to impress across the last three games and stake his claim as Rangers’ best option moving forwards.