Rangers debutant Johnly Yfeko: 'I feel like I’m improving every day'

Johnly Yfeko admits he still has a lot to learn after making his competitive Rangers debut in the 2-1 Viaplay Cup win over Morton at Ibrox on Saturday.

The 20-year-old defender was one of eight changes Michael Beale made for the visit of the Championship side and it was far from an easy afternoon for the Light Blues, who have a Champions League play-off first leg tie against PSV Eindhoven in Govan on Tuesday night.

Rangers fell behind in the 52nd minute when Morton skipper Grant Gillespie scored with a penalty following a VAR check on Cyriel Dessers’ tackle on former Gers defender Kirk Broadfoot.

However, Dessers levelled from the spot on the hour mark, also following VAR intervention when Broadfoot tugged Leon Balogun’s jersey.

Substitute Danilo put Rangers ahead in the 68th minute and it took a crucial challenge by Yfeko on George Oakley in the eight minutes of added time to prevent the Morton striker getting a shot away as he bore down on Gers keeper Jack Butland.

Yfeko, who joined from Leicester in January 2022, told Rangers TV: “I enjoyed it. It was a good game.

“We could have done better with the result, got more goals, but I really enjoyed it for my first game.

“I’ve got a lot to learn and I just need to keep working hard on the training pitch and taking information I’m being given.

“It’s been really good. The coaching staff have put a lot of faith in me, they’ve been working with me really closely behind the scenes.

“I just feel like I’m improving every day, getting smarter every day and it’s just thanks to them for putting so much time and effort into my development.

“I’m just trying to get better. I’m just trying to see where I can get to and hopefully staying in the first team, but I just want to focus on my own development.”

Morton boss Dougie Imrie was “massively proud” of his team’s performance and noted goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald’s contribution.

He said: “Our team gave everything. For large parts of the game we were very good.

“Jamie was man of the match with some fantastic saves. At times you need your goalkeeper on his A game and he was.”