Oliver Antman: Rangers fans have still to see the best of me

Oliver Antman believes Rangers fans have still to see the best of him after making his first start of the year in Sunday’s 8-0 Scottish Gas Scottish Cup win over Queen’s Park at Ibrox.

The 24-year-old Finland winger made an instant impact last August after he joined the Light Blues from Eredivisie club Go Ahead Eagles on a four-year deal, playing a starring role on his debut when the Gers beat Viktoria Plzen 3-0 in a home Champions League qualifier.

However, Antman did not kick on as expected but after two months out of action with a leg issue, he came off the bench in Rangers’ Europa League defeat against Porto last month and came on as substitute again to score his first Gers goal in last Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox.

The former Nordsjaelland player was in from the start against the Spiders and provided a couple of assists in a fine performance.

Ahead of the William Hill Premiership game against Motherwell at Fir Park on Wednesday night, he said: “I haven’t had the best start to my Rangers career and then (had) an injury, but I’ve always had belief in my own abilities.

“Before the injury I didn’t play the best football I can play.

“If I did play the best I could and that was the end result, then I think I should be a little bit more worried.

“But by knowing that I can do a lot better, I think it’s just a matter of time until it shows. So that’s the only thing I’m thinking about.”

Danny Rohl has turned Rangers’ domestic fortunes around since taking over from Russell Martin last October when they were 13 points behind leaders Hearts.

The Light Blues have reduced that gap to three points and after taking on fourth-placed Motherwell they host the Jambos on Sunday where they could go top of the league if results go in their favour.

Antman believes that the Govan club are peaking at the right time and have the capabilities to clinch a league and cup double this season.

“Yeah, I think we have the team to do that,” he added, speaking before Rangers were drawn at home to Celtic in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. “And at the moment, we are really confident in the team.

“But at the same time, we have to remember where we were at the start of the season.

“So we cannot be cocky about it but we are really confident that we have the ability to win the league and possibly the double.

“Football changes really quickly and I’ve experienced it many times in my career, personally and also team wise.

“A lot of it is about confidence and once you start getting a couple of good games and good wins, things start to pick up and that’s exactly what’s going on right now and now it’s a real possibility that maybe being top of the table at the end of the week.

“At this moment it feels like we’re flying and we have the momentum.

“The most important game is the next one and that’s the mentality we have to have.”