He was greeted by a frenzied fanfare as the Rangers faithful welcomed the man they hoped would fire their side to another title triumph.
But so far the only thing Aaron Ramsey is fanning round Ibrox is the flames of frustration.
The jubilant throngs of Gers supporters who braved the pouring rain as they crowded round the front door on Edmiston Drive late on a dreekit deadline day thought they’d secured a vital edge over Celtic when they landed the Wales and Juventus ace on a six-month loan.
You couldn’t wipe the grin off the face of Ross Wilson - the transfer guru behind the sensational swoop - as the 31-year-old was paraded in front of his new adoring masses.
But it’s frowns all round now with Ramsey now set to be sidelined again for tonight’s Perth trip to face St Johnstone.
His first month in Scotland has seen the former Arsenal star register just 94 minutes of action during a period in which Rangers have squeezed in eight games crucial to their hopes both domestically and in Europe.
These were the glamour clashes Ramsey was signed to have an influence on but so far the Welshman will have spent so long sitting in the stands he’ll be qualifying for MyGers points.
That might not be a shock considering his well documented muscular issues mean he has managed to start and finish just one match since last summer’s Euros.
But if the Rangers support are exasperated about Ramsey’s continuing absence, then boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst reckons they should spare a thought for the player himself.
Confirming Ramsey will sit out the Saints showdown along with Ryan Jack, Filip Helander, Steven Davis and fellow loanee Amad Diallo, the Dutchman said: “I don't have a clear timeline. Hopefully he can join the team very soon.
“He’s already working on the pitch again so hopefully in the near future we can welcome him back in the squad.
“Of course we wanted Aaron to be involved more than he is now but the most disappointed is Aaron himself. But that’s football.
“You almost never get the ideal scenario as a coach. Only in an ideal world.
“You always have things that will happen every week due to circumstances.
“You just have to make sure you handle the situations well for the players and for us as a team in general and just move forward. Hopefully Aaron and all the other players who cannot be involved tomorrow can be with the team soon.”
Helander and Jack should return for Saturday’s visit of Aberdeen but another raft of injuries is the last thing van Bronckhorst needs as he looks to find an even keel for a side that has been veering wildly from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Seven straight wins in the league before New Year have been followed up by some ludicrously inconsistent displays at the start of 2022.
After throwing away a two-goal lead in Sunday’s draw with Motherwell, Gers have now registered just three wins, four draws and that Celtic Park hammering on league duty since the bells rung.
Were it not for his side’s stunning triumph over Borussia Dortmund, van Bronckhorst would likely be facing some serious questioning over his management after allowing a six-point lead to become three-point deficit in the space of six weeks.
Slip-up tonight and that interrogation will come - but the former Feyenoord coach reckons he still has the answer to Gers’ problems.
He said: “It’s quite clear. We are coming into the end of the season with the last 10 games and they are all important. In every game we need to get the three points.
“We were very disappointed with the draw at the weekend but it’s a new game, a new challenge and we have to have the three points tomorrow.
“I know the club. I know the feeling of becoming a manager of a big club. It comes with pressure, it comes with questions.
“So for me, that’s what I expected. The most important thing is to be clear on the path we want to go, how we want to play.
“I know I’m responsible for the tactics, for picking the starting line-up. So I don’t need any advice or influence.
“Of course people will talk about it - in a very good way and also in a very negative way when the results aren’t there.
“But I just have to be clear in my head and go on the path I want to go with my team and with the club. For me that’s the most important thing.
“Everyone is entitled to comments or criticism. That’s also the beauty of football. Everyone has opinions. But in the end I have to make my decisions how I want to make them and that’s only with my own thinking in mind.”
Gers created an incredible 60 openings during damaging draws against Dundee United and Well - but took just three of them.
Now van Bronckhorst revealed how his assistant and former Bayern Munich ace Roy Maakay has put on extra target practice to help sharpen up the champions’ misfiring attack.
He said: “The recent games in the league, we have created a lot of chances but didn’t convert as many as we wanted. That’s why we had the draws. It’s obviously a point we need to improve.
“Roy is talking a lot with the players, a lot of finishing on goal (in training) with the strikers and midfield players. We are looking into images of games.
“We need to improve that area, so we are working on that. Hopefully, tomorrow we will see a difference.
“We just have to continue and after 38 games the one that is on top is the champions. It’s as simple as that.
“But we still have 10 games to go and we are there for the fight. We have to continue.”
