Edu ecstatic after first start for Rangers

Maurice Edu has garnered a great deal of attention since his summer move to Rangers. On Saturday, finally, the talking was replaced by playing. The 22-year-old American international was handed a surprising debut start as Rangers went tops in the Scotish Premier League with a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock.

"It was a great experience," he said after the game. "The fans are amazing. Their support was unbelievable and it's definitely going to help us through the course of the season."

Walter Smith was originally set to start Kevin Thomson alongside Pedro Mendes in the midfield, but Thomson failed a pre-match fitness test, and Edu was slotted in.

"It was a surprise to me that I was called in but I had tried to prepare myself if I did get called in," Edu said. "I wanted to be ready and fortunately for me I got the call. I felt I did OK in the game but the most important thing was the win and that's what we got."

Edu looked comfortable from the opening whistle. In the first half, he played his countryman DaMarcus Beasley in for a chance on goal, but Beasley hesitated and was tackled before he got a shot off. In the end, though, Edu stayed on message and talked up the team's performance.

"It was great to get a win in my first game, especially as we had to battle back from a goal down," Edu said. "But I think that just shows the confidence that the team has and the strength and character within the squad."

-- Goal.com