‘He will explode soon’ – McCann tips struggling English player to make imminent impact for Gers
After a barren recent run Rangers winger Ryan Kent is set to “explode” again and show his early-season form, according to former Gers man Neil McCann.
Kent began the season in spectacular fashion as he picked up August’s Premiership player of the month award.
However he has gone off the boil of late and has been overshadowed by the likes of Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi with the former announcing himself as the talismanic figure in the Rangers attack this season and Hagi scoring some important goals of late.
Player-turned-pundit McCann thinks Kent is ready to spark back into form as he exclusively told SunSport, ahead of Sunday’s Premiership clash at Aberdeen, “Ryan will explode soon because he’s been too quiet for the last few games. He will come to the fore again very soon.
“You can see an element of frustration in his game at the moment. He wants to affect the game more than he’s doing.”
He added: “His all-round game is so valuable to Rangers that he almost always plays. He is so important to the way the team functions.”
Kent struggles but Rangers power on
He has started eight of their last ten fixtures but after a terrific start to the season Kent is currently enduring a real downturn in the goal scoring stakes.
The 24-year-old has failed to score in his last 11 appearances for Rangers, with his last goal coming against Sunday’s opponents Aberdeen on November 22.
In fact, that goal against the Dons is his only one in his last 22 games, an astonishing record given his early season successes.
It hasn’t been for the want of trying with his 49 Premiership shots more than all but two players (Celtic’s Ryan Christie and Hibernian’s Kevin Nisbet).
Despite this Rangers have not been affected by Kent’s deficiencies in front of goal as they have remained unbeaten in the Premiership and Europa League, with their only defeat of the season coming against St Mirren in the League Cup quarter-final.
Furthermore, Kent only needs two more goals to match his Premiership tally of seven goals last season, and a further goal would give him his best league total of his career.
It has not been the happiest of times for Kent in front of goal but the important aspect is that Rangers are still motoring on in their quest for domestic and European glory and he is still contributing in other areas.
With a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal Steven Gerrard will not be too concerned if the rest can make up for Kent’s lack of goals.
But do not be surprised to see McCann’s words ring true and Kent to return to the sort of form that earned him so many plaudits at the start of the campaign.
In other Rangers news, fans urge club to secure deal for Premier League player who can join on a free transfer.