BBC pundit compares Malik Tillman to Dimitar Berbatov after Rangers win v Aberdeen
Malik Tillman was a standout performer for Rangers v Aberdeen, but Rory Loy wants to see the 20-year-old work harder when the team is struggling.
After a rough few weeks of results, Rangers answered their critics in style on Saturday with a convincing 4-1 win over fourth-placed Aberdeen at Ibrox.
Tillman was named in the starting lineup by Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the United States international rewarded his manager with an impressive performance in the heart of midfield.
However, BBC Scotland pundit Loy still wants to see more from Tillman, especially when Gers are struggling.
“I think Tillman is a funny one. He’s not obviously had an illustrious career as of yet. He reminds me almost of [Dimitar] Berbatov,” Loy told BBC Sportsound, as quoted by Glasgow Live.
“The way he moves when the teams not doing so well. He is easy to criticise because the way he kind of walks around the pitch at times but he shows touches of brilliance and class and when the team is doing well he thrives in that environment.
“Maybe it’s just getting him to do the dirty side of the game as well.”
Inconsistency
Tillman has shown glimpses of brilliance at Rangers and it’s clear that he has the potential to become an incredibly talented player.
But his work rate is often frustrating and he can go missing in games if Rangers are finding it tough to keep the ball.
Against teams that sit back and concede possession, Tillman is a perfect option to unlock the defence and carve chances and goals out of nothing – he proved that against Motherwell and again against Aberdeen on Saturday.
But too often in big games he’s caught out defensively and frustrates Rangers fans by not tracking back or getting into position.
At just 20 years old, there’s a chance that Van Bronckhorst can drill it into Tillman to improve, but it’s a lot harder to change a player’s mentality than it is their physical traits.
So it’s down to Tillman to show his work rate and consistency. He’s nailed down a spot in Van Bronckhorst’s lineup, but the Dutchman will still be putting hefty expectations on the talented youngster.
In other Rangers news, BBC Sportscene is left baffled by an Anthony Stewart incident in the Aberdeen win