If covering enough ground is perceived to be Kris Boyd’s principal flaw, his new Rangers colleague, Maurice Edu, suffers no such problem. The American has spent more time in the air than on terra firma in the past month, on an endless succession of flights, yet he believes that Ibrox is the place that will allow his career to truly take off.

The 22-year-old made his debut on Saturday as Boyd struck twice in three minutes to maintain the Indian sign over his former club, Kilmarnock. Edu lasted 64 minutes before making way for Charlie Adam, but given that he only stepped off yet another long-haul flight on Friday, it was a testimony to his fitness that he even made a contribution at all.

The United States midfield player has made three return trips across the Atlantic, as well as a trek to China, to serve his country’s recent World Cup and Olympic needs. The hectic schedule has meant that Edu has only trained twice with Walter Smith’s players since signing from Toronto FC for £2.4 million three weeks ago. Now he simply wants to settle into Glasgow and pursue success in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

“It has been really busy going back and forward but I am here now and it is going to be good to just train with the guys for the next few weeks without any international distractions,” Edu said. “I did not expect to be playing against Kilmarnock. I’ve been everywhere in the last few weeks since coming back from Beijing to Glasgow to talk to Rangers. Then I went to Toronto, then on to Guatemala, then back here to sign, then Cuba and Miami last week for the World Cup qualifiers – I think some people think I’m trying to get free flights.”

Smith, of course, knew such a hectic workload was part of the package when he plucked the highly-rated Edu from Major League Soccer. “It is all for a good cause,” Edu said. “The US are in a good position in our qualifying group and every game is important to us. However, our next one is not until October when we have Cuba at home, so that gives me time to focus on Rangers.”

Smith said an injury to Kevin Thomson in training on Friday forced him to pressgang Edu into service. “I was not intending to give him his debut and it’s always awkward when players are travelling those distances in the international break, so it was maybe a little bit unfair on him,” the manager said. “However, I thought Maurice showed some really good touches and we look forward to him settling down and getting some training under his belt now.”

Edu came with an endorsement from Mo Johnston, the former Scotland striker who played for Smith two decades ago at Rangers and is now general manager of Toronto. Johnston and Smith both feel that Edu can flourish in Glasgow.

“Mo emphasised how big this club is,” Edu said. “He feels I can become a better player here. I noticed a real difference with the MLS. The pace is much faster and the players are more technical and it is a real battle. The MLS is getting better, but here you have seasoned professionals and guys who have played at the top levels in Europe. Hopefully, I can get better soon and be on that level.”

Edu has already pinpointed one ally in his search for self-improvement. Pedro Mendes, who arrived at Ibrox in the same flurry of transfer activity, underlined again why Smith paid Portsmouth £3 million for the Portugal midfield player. His passing was the epitome of economy, never wasting any, nor taking two touches when one would satisfy.

“Pedro is a great player and makes things easier for me,” Edu said. “He is very smart and good on the ball and has so much experience. I can learn a lot from him. He is going to be a key person for me in becoming a better player.”

Yet, Edu’s baptism looked as if it would be spoilt. Frazer Wright had underlined Kilmarnock’s prematch status as joint-leaders by scoring after just nine minutes, taking advantage of an error by Allan McGregor, the Rangers goalkeeper, before stabbing the ball in at the near post. When McGregor’s counterpart, Alan Combe, produced a remarkable stop from Boyd before the interval, the doubts deepened.

However, cometh the hour, cometh the Boyd. The Rangers striker profited from Nacho Novo earning a 58th-minute penalty, with Kilmarnock aggrieved that Manuel Pascali had been punished, and squeezed his spot kick beyond Combe. Three minutes later, Boyd turned Simon Ford in the box and clubbed a right-foot finish that took a deflection on its way past Combe from Wright.

It was Boyd’s 11th goal against Kilmarnock since Jim Jefferies reluctantly sold him to Rangers in January 2006, yet simply adds another layer to the ongoing debate about a prolific forward whose modest movement outside the box forces him to embrace a substitute’s role all too often.

“That’s what he is about, he is a goalscorer,” Jefferies said. “We told the defence about not letting him get a ball played into his feet.”

Rangers ratings (4-4-2)

A McGregor 5 K Broadfoot 7 K Bougherra 7 D Weir 6 S Papac 7 S Davis 6 P Mendes 8 M Edu 6 D Beasley 4 K Boyd 7 K Miller 6 Substitutes N Novo 6 (for Beasley, 46min), C Adam 4 (for Edu, 64), J-C Darcheville (for Boyd, 84) Not used N Alexander, A Niguez, J McMillan, J Fleck.

Kilmarnock ratings (4-4-1-1)

A Combe 9 J Fowler 7 F Wright 7 S Ford 6 G Hay 7 D Invincibile 7 M Pascali 7 C Bryson 7 G Skelton 6 M Taouil 8 D Fernandez 6 Substitutes C Sammon (for Skelton, 74min), D Simmonds (for Fernandez, 85) Not used D Rascle, D Lilley, J Hammill, I Flannigan, C Nolan.

Referee: C Murray Attendance: 50,019