Steven Gerrard has called for patience after signing Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria on a season-long loan.
Gerrard was expected to raid his former club for young talent after being appointed new Rangers manager last month.
Ejaria, who recently signed a new long-term contract with the Reds, is the first player to arrive from Anfield but his manager for the next 12 months has urged supporters to give the youngster time to get his feet under him at Ibrox.
Gerrard told RangersTV:
“With Ovie I think it is important that the crowd give him a bit of time to come up and adapt to the surroundings. He will be coming up alone, without his family.
“He will be joining us in Spain and we will work him in at the right time and speed. In terms of talent, in terms of someone who can get a fan on the edge of their seat, in terms of someone who has got tonnes of ability and is waiting for people to admire, we feel he is ready to burst.”
“But, he will have to be managed and put in at the right time. He is one that I am confident can excite the fans here and I know what the fans want here, they want exciting players to watch.”
Ejaria made eight senior appearances for Liverpool before he was sent out on loan to Sunderland in January of this year for experience.
The England U21 midfielder scored one goal in 11 appearances for the Black Cats but was unable to save them from relegation to League One.
It’s understood that Jurgen Klopp expects huge things of Ejaria but, given his relationship with Gerrard, the Liverpool manager was happy to allow the youngster to further develop in Glasgow.
