IT didn’t take long for Joe Aribo to find his feet at Rangers. Now, he is really getting into his stride.

For all the talk and comment that surrounded Aribo in the summer, he was still somewhat of an unknown property when he completed his move from Charlton and penned a four-year deal with the Gers.

He would make a positive first impression in the early weeks of the campaign but a shift in his role, and time to adjust to life in Glasgow, has steadily brought out further improvement in the playmaker.

Now deployed in a more advanced berth on the right of the front three, his nifty changes of direction and turns of pace have allowed him to become a more influential part of the Ibrox attack.

There was no goal or assist for Aribo against Stranraer on Friday evening but his performance was still important as Steven Gerrard’s side progressed to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

The comfortable Ibrox victory ensured Rangers got off and running in the second half of the campaign and a place in the history books could now await as boss Gerrard bids for the title this season.

It has been a whirlwind few months for Aribo but the Englishman is settled on and off the park and optimistic for what lies ahead.

“It was intense at the start and it took time obviously settling in to a new club and the stature of the club and how big it is,” he said. “So it did take some time to get used to it. But I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and I’ve been happy I’ve been able to stay in the squad and keep putting in performances.

“The expectancy to win [compared to Charlton]. That’s been the biggest thing I notice.

“At first it took me time to get used to it because I didn’t have that expectancy. You just know if you make a mistake it won’t be seen as just ‘oh well the next one will be better’ - it has to be the right one.

“The gaffer says all the time ‘don’t be sloppy’ and that’s what it is. It cuts out the sloppy side of it.

“You have got to be ruthless in football and take all he chances that you are given because you don’t know if you will get the next one.

“We had momentum winning the Old Firm game and we just need to keep that going. I would say all the boys are in a good place in their heads. We had a good break, we have a great togetherness in the team and we are all ready to go in this busy period.”

The Stranraer tie was Rangers’ first competitive outing since their Old Firm win last month. After three weeks to recharge, they picked up where they left off.

Aribo was one of the most impressive performers during that Parkhead victory and has rightly been praised by supporters for his part in the memorable 2-1 triumph.

One clip - where he collects a high ball with a deft touch whilst on the run - has gone viral. It sums up his talent.

Aribo said: “A few of my friends sent it to me and I just laughed at it. It’s just practice.

“Even in training, I try to kick the ball as high as possible and bring it down. I used to do it a lot as a kid all the time.

“It gives me that confidence if I break the rules I can play my natural game. It’s sometimes hard when you are in a fixed structure so you need someone to go and do the things that no one is expecting you to do.

“That just gives me confidence to say that I need to stand up and do what I have to do to put in the right ball or score goals for the team.”

There was no finishing touch to Aribo’s play on Friday as Scott Arfield and Jermain Defoe got the goals that put Rangers one step closer to a return to Hampden.

It was far from the most accomplished showing of the campaign but the victory was all that mattered as the first game of a crucial run was ticked off with ease.

Aribo said: “We knew we just needed to progress. It was a frustrating night at times.

“We knew we needed more. We were a bit rusty and we needed to get that game in so we could move forward.

“We’ve not played in a few weeks so the first game was always going to be rusty and we are just happy to get rid of the cobwebs and we can move on. We had momentum after the Old Firm game and it’s important we keep the momentum going now, even after the break.

“We don’t want to slip up, we don’t want to look back with regrets. We just want to win in every game we play.”