David Martindale: Livingston Joel Nouble ace has ability to play for Rangers
David Martindale has suggested that Livingston forward Joel Nouble has the ability to play for a big club like Rangers or any Championship club in England.
The 26-year-old scored for Livi as they lost 2-1 against Queens Park Rangers in a friendly game on 29 November.
The versatile attacking midfielder, who scored against the Bears at Ibrox on 22 October, is valued at around £1m.
He has continued his impressive development at Livingston and Martindale has no doubt that the player is destined to move to a bigger club in the future.
“I think Nouble can go and play in the English Championship, 100 per cent, all day long,” said Martindale on Open Goal, as relayed by Scottish Daily Mail (1 December, page 74).
“I’m not sure as a (number) nine, but he can play as a seven or an 11 or a nine, and that’s the luxury for me.
“His goal-scoring record is getting better, he’s working hard on his finishing. And I think he could go and play right now for Rangers as a winger.”
Not really
Nouble is an exciting player, no doubt, but is he good enough for the Gers? Not really.
He is good at passing and dribbling but his end product needs to improve. He has managed three goals and two assists in 15 games in the league so far, while playing mostly as a striker, as per Who scored.
Although his scoring records are getting better as suggested by the manager, it is still not good enough to convince Michael Beale to take interest in him.
In contrast, Ryan Kent has managed one goal and provided five assists so far playing on the wings, and this has been his worst season so far.
Moreover, Kent’s biggest weakness is the lack of end products. For a player of his talent, he should be scoring regularly and getting more assists.
So, if Rangers are looking to replace him in the long run they must sign someone who has better numbers in those areas. Sadly, Nouble is not at that level, not yet.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart slammed Beale for an “unsavoury” incident at Ibrox.