Dan Neil spent the first weeks of his Rangers career playing it safe, wary of the fierce scrutiny that follows every touch in Glasgow.
Two goals in an Old Firm derby against Celtic changed that in an instant, and former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips believes the midfielder’s Wearside upbringing explains exactly why he was equipped to handle the moment.
Neil followed his brace last week with another fine performance as Rangers triumphed in the Old Firm derby once again.
The former Mackems captain has come through his first two derbies, and particularly at Parkhead, with flying colours.
His Ibrox career is off and running.
Neil left the Stadium of Light for Ibrox as a local product who had grown up under the weight of Sunderland’s own goldfish bowl.
Phillips, who knows all about performing under that kind of scrutiny at the club, says that grounding is now paying off in Scotland.
Aiden McGeady praised his former teammate not long ago, and Phillips’ latest assessment adds real substance to the idea that Neil is settling into life north of the border.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Phillips made clear he had never doubted the midfielder’s ability. “I’ve said all along that Dan’s a very good player. Technically, he’s very good. And I’ve seen him score goals like that over the years for Sunderland. So no surprise that he’s got it in the locker,” he said.
From Wearside pressure to Old Firm spotlight for Dan Neil
Neil’s move to Rangers always carried a particular kind of pressure. He arrived as a big-money midfielder expected to make an instant impact at a club where every performance is picked apart in public.
Phillips, who understands the demands of playing for a club with a passionate, expectant fanbase, says that pressure had been building since his arrival.
“There were a few question marks, a bit of criticism heading his way since he’s gone to Rangers,” Phillips said.
It is a reminder that Neil’s early months at Ibrox were not without scrutiny, even if his underlying performances were steady rather than spectacular.
That context matters for Sunderland supporters who watched Neil grow from academy prospect into a first-team regular under intense local attention.
His path through the Stadium of Light dressing room, and the demands that came with it, shaped how he has approached this new challenge in Glasgow.
Behind Dan Neil’s initial caution and breakthrough against Celtic
Phillips offered a clear explanation for why Neil looked cautious in his first months at Rangers, pointing to the psychology of adapting to a new, high-stakes environment.
“Was he guilty of playing safe early on? I think that comes from having played the game. When you’re in the goldfish bowl, playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, you’ve got pressure,” he explained.
He went further, describing a pattern he has seen from players settling into demanding new surroundings. “And sometimes players ease themselves in gently. They don’t want to try too hard and try things that might not come off, because you don’t want the fans to get on your back early doors,” Phillips said.
His conclusion on Neil’s opening spell was straightforward: “He’s probably just been a bit cautious while trying to settle in.”
That caution disappeared against Celtic. Neil scored twice in the Ibrox derby, and Phillips was in no doubt about what it meant for his confidence going forward.
“I think now those shackles would have been lifted. Two goals in a derby, at home as well, will do wonders for his confidence,” he said.
Phillips also framed the derby display as the perfect response to any lingering doubts about Neil’s form. “But that’s the best way to answer the critics. It was two great finishes, wasn’t it?” he said, underlining just how significant the timing and stage of those goals were.
What Dan Neil’s Rangers rise means for his ongoing career trajectory
Phillips believes the derby represents a turning point rather than a one-off. He expects Neil’s Sunderland grounding to keep paying dividends as he settles further into life at Ibrox.
“He knows Glasgow now, he knows what the club’s about. So that experience at Sunderland has certainly helped him deal with the big occasions,” he said.
Looking ahead, Phillips predicts a more confident version of the midfielder will now emerge on a regular basis, closer to the player Sunderland supporters watched develop over several seasons.
“I think now you’ll see a different player, full of confidence, and you’ll see the Dan Neil that I’ve seen over the years. I think he’ll only get better and better from that experience,” he said.
That view carries weight given Phillips’ own understanding of what it takes to thrive under intense scrutiny at a big club.
His assessment is not a guarantee of sustained form, but it does suggest that Neil’s early struggles at Rangers were a phase to work through rather than a sign of his ceiling.
For Sunderland fans, there is an obvious sense of pride in watching an academy product handle the step up to Old Firm football.
Whether Neil can maintain this level through a demanding Scottish season remains to be seen, but according to Phillips, the foundations built on Wearside have given him every chance of doing so.
