The need for Rangers to recruit a midfielder was highlighted more than ever in the games following the winter break.
It was an area where they were overrun in the drab draw against Aberdeen, albeit Giovanni van Bronckhorst was without key man Joe Aribo.
And again against Livingston they struggled to break down a stuffy Livingston side and were too pedestrian and predictable in the engine room.
It took the introduction of Scott Arfield in that game to settle it the way the home side with his delicious flick over the keeper a huge moment.
Aribo was back for the trip to Dingwall at the weekend and showed exactly what they were missing but it was clear there was room for improvement.
That it comes in the shape of Welsh superstar Aaron Ramsey was a shock to most as the Ibrox side captured their biggest name arguably since Ronald de Boer signed more than two decades ago.
Like De Boer, those looking to pick holes in the Juventus loan signing could point to his lack of game time in Italy and injury record.
However, Ramsey himself has hinted that it’s the lack of games that has led to his time on the treatment table.
And that a run of matches would help him get his fitness levels up and avoid the kind of muscle injuries that he’s known for having as opposed to being an impact sub.
Rangers can certainly offer him that opportunity as, if fit and available, his quality makes him an automatic starter. But just what his best position?
At Arsenal
It was the role he found himself under Unai Emery at Arsenal that saw him leave the Gunners after 11 years in north London.
The Spaniard forced the midfielder to play in a deeper role but that didn't suit Ramsey8.
His frustration towards the end at Arsenal was clear as Santi Cazorla was played in his position and he was shunted out wide.
And he said at the time: “I’m not hiding away from it, I want to be playing in the middle. It’s harder to get involved in the game when you’re on the wing, which is why I don’t really enjoy playing there.
“I like to be involved in everything, in starting attacks. I’m relying on other people to get me into the game. It is a bit frustrating.
“The manager said he wants me do a job out there for the moment and obviously I’ll do that for him. But I prefer to play in the middle.
“We have wingers on the bench, but he’s still picking me out wide. I like to get the ball and drive the team forward. I’m not a No10, playing with my back to goal. I’ll try to play between the lines now and again if the game demands that and we’re pressing quite high.
"That can be a dangerous position to take up. But I like to start from a defensive position and drive the team forward with little one-twos around players. That’s where I prefer to play."
With Wales
The best examples of what Ramsey will bring to Rangers are probably found at international level for Wales.
The Dragons have often been labelled a one-man team with Gareth Bale but that would be doing Ramsey a disservice.
He emerged as an equally player for a spell, not least on the night they secured qualification for Euro 2020.
Ramsey netted a double and his late arrival into the box and towering header and well-taken second after collecting a free kick underline what he will bring to Gers.
At Juventus
The fact Arsenal didn't play Ramsey in his preferred role was highlighted by Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici after they landed him following an unhappy end to his time at Arsenal.
The Italian told believes he will be best employed as the most attacking member of a three-man midfield as it “lets him make runs in behind” and “he's a man for the final pass and he has an eye for goal".
But with so many managerial changes during his time in Turin he was deployed in various positions and it didn't work out as he would have hoped.
Steven Gerrard’s verdict
The former Ibrox boss was linked with a move himself for Ramsey and he knows a thing or two about top class midfielders.
And he was in no doubt at where he is at his best when speaking about the midfielder six years ago during that unhappy spell out wide.
"Mentally, I don't think he'll be happy himself playing out wide because he hasn't got the legs.
"His qualities are all in the middle and for me when he's in that form he's the best attacking midfielder in the Premier League.
"So you've got to play your best players where they want to be and I'm sure he'll want to be in the middle."
At Rangers?
With a boss who has faith in him and being the man in the middle again could be central to Rangers title hopes. Put simply, Ramsey is best when given freedom to roam as a No.8
With the Rangers full backs less attacking under Van Bronckhorst than his predecessor Gerrard, it will allow the Ibrox side to sacrifice a sitting midfielder and give Ramsey licence to get forward.
His dynamism and ability to press and desire to burst forward as a box to box midfielder is exactly what Rangers need and what they have missed when Arfield has been out.
