‘Another level’ – Peter Lovenkrands heaps praise on Rangers talent who is ‘outshining everyone’
Peter Lovenkrands has claimed that Rangers winger Ryan Kent is “outshining everyone” this season.
The 23-year-old has started the campaign brightly, hitting five goals and five assists in his first 10 outings.
And Lovenkrands has argued that he is eclipsing all of his peers at Ibrox, including summer signing Ianis Hagi.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, he said: “Hagi has been a good signing for Rangers, and he was excellent towards the end of last season. He’s been good this season, but has probably been outshone by Kent.
“He has gone to another level, and probably taken some of the spotlight away from Hagi. They play in that similar position, but Kent is outshining everyone at the minute.
“I think it’s still too early to talk about England, but he’s certainly on the right course. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, especially in the European games, then you never know.
“Kent needs to stand out in these games, and prove he’s able to perform at a higher level. If he does that, then that is the time when people will be able to look at him for England.”
Is Kent outshining his teammates?
Yes and no, truth be told.
On the one hand, he has definitely hit the ground running this season, and when you compare him to somebody like Hagi, who has just one goal in 11 appearances so far this term, it’s easy to see why he’s attracting such high praise.
The former Liverpool has averaged over twice as many dribbles per game this term, as per Wyscout, as well as having a higher total action success rate, a higher xG, a higher shot accuracy, and a higher passing accuracy too.
That being said, there have been other standout performers in this Rangers side too.
James Tavernier has started the campaign like a man possessed, hitting six goals and four assists in 11 outings from right-back, while both Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin have been superb during their respective spells between the sticks.
Kent probably edges them out in terms of who has caught the eye most this term, granted, but there are a lot of shining lights at Ibrox at the moment.
In other Rangers news, fans have blasted this BBC pundit for his “desperate” claim.