Cyriel Dessers has admitted he felt like he was the "scapegoat" at Rangers at points this season.

The Ibrox striker - who has 22 goals in all competitions this term - struggled during the early stages of his move to Rangers.

Dessers quickly received criticism over his performances with serious questions raised over his ability as a goalscorer for the Ibrox club.

The Nigerian forward even recalls being branded the "worst player to have played for Rangers" during the tough times adapting to life in Glasgow.

Dessers, 29, seriously struggled as he copped flak for his performances after arriving in the summer from Cremonese.

Even if it had been pundits or media reports slaughtering his ability, Dessers would have been more comfortable, but the criticism from his own supporters hit him hard.

READ MORE: Clement will take Rangers injury risks against Celtic in Scottish Cup

He told the BBC: “Yeah, I feel in some moments I was the scapegoat.

“I only came in in the summer, but suddenly it felt like everything that happened inside the club or on the pitch was only my fault.

“These are hard things because I was just moving to a country, trying to adapt to a new club, a new league.

“I was still putting up my Ikea furniture or working out the settings on my television and people were already trying to write me out of the club, saying ‘You’re the worst player who ever played for Rangers and all these things.

“You’re not even fully settled down and people already want to get rid of you or are actively hating on you, especially when it’s from your own fans, it’s really hard.

“If it’s the press, it doesn’t bother me too much.

“But if it’s your own fans, it hurts you. You’re a human being.

“Strikers, they’re like a special kind of personality. They’re at their best with love.

“Not one player in the world is better when you whistle him off the pitch.

“Once you’re getting these little bits of love, you start to grow as a player and you become better and better.

“There were months that were really tough for me.”