'He won't thank me for saying this' - Why Rangers ace reminds pundit of Ibrox legend

Kris Boyd sees “similarities" between his former Rangers team-mate David Weir and current Ibrox ace Filip Helander.

Filip Helander reminds ex-Rangers ace Kris Boyd of Ibrox legend David Weir. Picture: SNS

The Swede impressed once more during the club’s 1-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road on Wednesday evening.

Helander has stood out for his game intelligence since joining Bologna and displayed it alongside Connor Goldson as the league leaders kept their 26th clean sheet of the season.

There was a crucial early block to deny Christian Doidge and another intervention late on a from a dangerous cross.

Boyd reckons Helander’s intelligence, coupled with a lack of “blistering pace”, is very similar to David Weir who served the club superbly into his 40s and was inducted into the Rangers hall of fame.

The former striker told Sky Sports: “He won’t thank me for saying this, and it is a cheek coming from me, but he wasn’t blessed with blistering pace but always found himself in the right place, whether it was to header it or squeezing the game, allowing his midfield to squeeze the game further up the pitch and I see similarities with Filip Helander.

“He very rarely, in terms of pace down the channels, gets done with it. The last five minutes, that header which came in from the right-hand side he was in the right position to get it away. I felt all round tonight he was excellent.”

James McFadden added: “He’s blessed with his positional play, his awareness, knowing where the danger is, how to deal with the danger, communication.”