Those who burst off the blocks in the warm glow of late summer can find that the going becomes a little tougher once the cold snap of winter sets in.

There is, however, an immediacy to sport in the modern era that means exploits in the present should always be enjoyed. You never know what the future will bring in a results-driven business where class may be permanent, but form will always be temporary.

Emotions

A loyal fan base at Ibrox knows that better than most given the rollercoaster of emotions that have been taken in by Rangers over the course of the last decade. From the top tier to the third and back again, savouring title successes at all of those levels, it has been quite the journey.

In 2022-23, football betting odds have the Gers at 23/20 to claim another Scottish Premiership crown, with there still more than enough points up for grabs to get right back on top of things domestically. European football is also providing a welcome distraction once again.

If more major silverware is to be chased down this term, then some talismanic figures are going to have to stand up and be counted. Finding said qualities is notoriously difficult, especially when transfer funds need to be stretched further than ever.

There has been a suggestion for some time now, with the lid well and truly blown off a recruitment market that was always threatening to get out of control, that value is becoming increasingly hard to find for those without the very deepest of pockets.

Rangers fit into that category, despite their illustrious history and enduring global appeal, the odd fumble around in a bargain bucket will always have to be taken. Said basket may be filled with cast-offs and supposedly damaged goods, but occasionally a hidden gem can be found.

In the case of Antonio Colak, the Gers appear to have hit the jackpot. Few would have heard of him when he made his way to Glasgow in the summer of 2022, with a nomadic frontman unpacking his bags at an 11th different club in the space of 10 years.

Surprise

If the Croatia international arrived as something of a surprise package, that is no longer the case. A healthy haul of 13 goals in his first 16 appearances ensured that the best possible kind of first impression was made on supporters crying out for a hero.

He may yet go off the boil, there is no way of telling, but to have snapped him up for just €2 million really does look like being quite the steal. To put that fee into perspective, Colak cost 100x less than the €222m deal which took Neymar from Barcelona to Paris-Saint Germain in 2017. For the cost of a Brazilian forward’s bootlace, Rangers will feel that they have already got their money’s worth.