George Overhill

Mon 9 January 2023 8:10, UK

Fashion Sakala has Michael Beale’s trust at Rangers and is repaying it by becoming an “influential” player with his great form, says Cammy Bell.

The Zambian forward smashed the Gers into the lead at Dundee United on Sunday (8 January) to break the deadlock in a previously tight game.

Bell was blown away by the skill the Gers man showed in scoring that goal, with an important helping hand from Ryan Jack, and believes the new manager is getting the best out of him after three goals and three assists in the six games since Beale arrived.

Speaking on BBC Sportscene on Sunday evening (38min) host Jonathan Sutherland asked: “Is this the best shoulder assist you’ve ever seen by Ryan Jack?”

Bell said: “It was a really important slight touch from Ryan Jack, but it was great from Sakala. 

“You see him start the move there, one-two, then he runs in behind and just the skill that he does here, and the finish, the pace that he’s running at, the touch with the right and then the finish with the left is phenomenal. 

“You can take nothing away, that’s a difficult skill to do running at that pace. But it was a great little touch by Ryan Jack and a fantastic goal for Rangers at the right time.”

Sutherland later added (42min 10sec): “It’s kind of surprising that he’s only got four goals this season because the last few weeks he’s been on fire.”

Bell went on: “Yeah but they’ve all come in the last few weeks since Michael Beale came in… He’s been in great form. He’s a really influential player for Rangers at the moment.

“His goal today was phenomenal. Again, I can’t describe how hard that is to run as fast as you can and then take a touch and volley it in.

“Michael Beale looks as if he trusts him up there and he’s given him the opportunity to play a number of games.”

Underrated

Finally Sakala looks to be getting the appreciation he deserves after going under the radar for a lot of his time at Ibrox.

He is certainly inconsistent, but when he gets it right he can be unstoppable, and Beale looks to be getting the best out of him with a goal or assist per game an excellent rate of contributions under the new boss.

Sakala’s unpredictability is crucial to his ability to beat opponents, and at times it seems to even get the better of himself, but with Rangers looking flat and uninspired so often under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, it is the sort of X factor that can unlock defences.

Jack made a nice contribution to the opener Tannadice but it was Sakala who set the Light Blues on the way to three important points.

Since his arrival prior to last season the 25-year-old has registered 16 goals and 11 assists, while often playing off the bench and rarely given an extended run.

Attacking reinforcements in January may be brought in, but the excellent run of form from Sakala since Beale came in is providing a much-needed injection of goals.

In other Rangers news, the club have been told to splash out “mega-dough” for a SPFL goal machine by a BBC pundit.