Ibrox View: Reignited Rangers talent can surely leave Hearts broken in Scottish Cup clash
RANGERS OPINION
Ryan Kent would probably be the first to admit that he hasn’t been at his very best in recent weeks.
The winger has been anonymous for long spells since the Gers returned from their winter break, and has drawn criticism from the likes of Kris Commons, who has argued recently that the £7 million transfer fee he commanded in the summer was a waste of money.
But the mark of a top player is pull it out of the bag even when the chips are down.
And if ever he needed to put in a high quality performance, it was against SC Braga in midweek.
With that slender advantage from the first leg and the pressure of travelling to Portugal to contend with, the Gers had to be at their best, and when it really mattered, it was Kent who came up with the goods.
That brilliantly composed breakaway finish, capitalising on a ludicrously high line from the hosts, was exactly the kind of killer instinct that has been missing from the wide man’s game for large parts of this season.
But it wasn’t the only piece of play that suggested his form has been reignited.
With a cross completion rate of 50%, a whole 20.4% higher than his season average, and 57% of his offensive duels won, 13.1% higher than average, as per Wyscout, Kent looked like a man on a mission.
The hope will be that he can now continue that impressive spike in form, and carry into to Saturday evening’s Scottish Cup tie against Hearts.
If he can, and if he can use a week off from the league against a struggling side as a stepping stone, hopefully we will begin to see some more glimpses of the talent that illuminated the Scottish game during his run to the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award last term.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox View: Reported interest in Gers duo could hint at major issue on horizon.