PEDRO CAIXINHA is confident midfielder Carlos Pena will show his quality once he fully adapts to the nature of Scottish football.

The Mexican scored his first goal for Rangers last weekend as Caixinha’s side eased to a 4-1 win over Dundee at Ibrox.

After a slow start to life in Light Blue, it was an important moment for Pena as he got another half an hour of match action under his belt.

And boss Caixinha believes the 27-year-old has plenty more to offer in the coming months as he looks to get up to speed for the Gers.

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He said: “It is always important to score. Carlos is in a process of adaptation so he is one that is coming.

“He is still not there. I know what I am telling you, he is still not there.

“But in the last two games, you saw it a little bit, what he can do in terms of arriving in the box and scoring goals.

“By having that desire to be involved where the ball is when the important moments of the game are.

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“You need to understand that this was when the game was much more open, because we were winning, so he could express his best characteristics.

“What we are trying to work with him is for him to understand when the game is tight and the space is conditioned by the time he gets to do things quick, he is not ready.

“That is the last stage of his adaptation. In terms of this style of game, which is much difficult to the style of game he was playing in Mexico.”

Pena was joined at Ibrox by compatriot Eduardo Herrera as he completed his move from Chivas Guadalajara in June and put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal.

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The former Mexican internationalist has struggled to make an impact as Ryan Jack and Graham Dorrans have held down central midfield berths.

But Caixinha reckons Pena can make his mark in several positions this term as he looks to earn a starting spot in the coming weeks.

He said: “Carlos can play in many different positions. He can be a shadow striker like he played, he can come off the left like he did at Ross County, he can play with three in the middle or two in the middle so he gives us a lot of options.

“I know the player we are talking about and he still has a lot to give. It is a progression, like usual, like the beginning.

“When is he coming? When is he coming? And when it is the right time, he will be out. It is a question of time.

“He is working hard at it, he is getting more attentive, getting more knowledge about his team-mates, about living in a foreign country, about having his family here. It is a question of timing but we know he is moving in the right direction.”