Kenny Miller: Ryan Kent already looks rejuvenated under Michael Beale at Rangers
Ryan Kent faces an uncertain future at Rangers with his expiring contract, but Kenny Miller saw flashes of his brilliance against Hibernian this week.
Kent has worked with Beale since his days in the Liverpool academy, and his best years at Rangers were spent while Beale was a coach at Auchenhowie.
Kent’s form dipped after Beale left for Aston Villa and then QPR, and it looked increasingly likely that he’ll leave in the summer after failing to sign a contract extension with the club.
However, Miller is hopeful that Beale’s return will tempt Kent into staying – he already looks rejuvenated on the pitch.
Via his Daily Record column, Miller wrote: “It has only taken 90 minutes of Michael Beale being in the dugout but already Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Glen Kamara look rejuvenated as Rangers players.
“Under Gio van Bronckhorst the players had gone stale. They didn’t come close to hitting the levels of the team that won the league 18 months ago and reached the Europa League Final in May. But there was a refreshing freedom to their play on Thursday and it bodes well, even if it’s just a start.
“For whatever reason, Kent wasn’t performing and he needs to have a long, hard look at himself in the mirror and ask why. Every player needs to have pride in their performance, no matter what.”
Turning point
Losing Kent without picking up a single penny for his exit would have been a disaster for Rangers. While he’s been disappointing this season, he showed his brilliant potential in the Europa League run last season.
Those performances came while working under Beale, and Kent is already beginning to rediscover his brilliance under the 42-year-old this season.
Beale started Kent on the left against Hibernian but gave him license to roam and create chances – something he did brilliantly well.
If he’s able to rediscover his consistency and perform like that in the second half of the season then there’s no reason why Kent wouldn’t extend his stay at Ibrox.
At just 26 years old he still has plenty of time to improve and grow at Ibrox and under Beale is where that’s most likely to happen.
in other Rangers news, Michael Beale could turn to the EFL Championship market in January according to a Sky Sports pundit