Michael Stewart baffled by enigmatic Rangers star Ryan Kent ahead of return to Liverpool
Rangers need Ryan Kent and Antonio Colak to step up if they are to get anything from their clash with Liverpool on Tuesday night, according to Michael Stewart.
The odds are stacked against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men as they head to Anfield for their third Champions League group stage clash after losing heavily to Ajax and Napoli in the first two games.
Kent, 25, grabbed his first goal of the season on Saturday in a 4-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle and Stewart believes that while the winger’s form baffles him, the Englishman is vital to his side’s chances at Anfield.
“They also had Ryan Kent coming up with the goods at the weekend, something that has been sorely lacking for months. He delivered a delightful early cross for Colak’s first and then a sumptuous late goal, his first in the league since last December. Kent will be returning to his former club and he will be fired up to show what he is capable of,” said Stewart on The Times website.
“That is the enigma of Kent, though — a player who seldom offers an insight into what he is thinking or feeling but more importantly a player who clearly possesses all the ability to devastate opponents but too often doesn’t deliver the end product.
“If Rangers are to have any hope of claiming a result for the ages, they will need big performances from both Kent and Colak.”
He’s right
We know that Rangers fans don’t like agreeing with Stewart.
We don’t either.
However, it’s hard to disagree with him in this case.
Kent’s best performances for Rangers have come in European football but we’re yet to really see a stand-out display from him this season.
Maybe he’s been affected by the penalty miss in the Europa League final or maybe his contract situation is weighing him down.
It’s unlikely anyone but Kent knows for sure.
However, if there’s a game for him to burst back onto the scene – it’s this one.
Kent has an opportunity to show up his former club on their own turf while also touting his name to any Premier League clubs that may be taking an interest in him currently.
If Kent wants to use the Champions League as a stage to get his name out there and secure a move away from Ibrox next season then we’re fine with that because it’ll only benefit us in the short-term.
On the long-term, however, it’s criminal that Rangers haven’t either sorted out a new deal for Kent or sold him last summer.
In other Rangers news, Gary Keown is baffled by what he’s heard from Ibrox sources about Ridvan Yilmaz.