Peter Lynch

Sun 18 June 2023 18:10, UK

Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller was blown away by James Tavernier’s goal tally this season, but has also highlighted the need for other players to step up in this regard.

The defender hit 17 goals in all competitions, finishing the season as the Scottish club’s top scorer, according to BBC Sport.

Such a scenario has resulted in Miller urging the club’s main striker to score at least 20 goals in the upcoming campaign.

“The club’s main striker this season has to get 20 goals,” Miller wrote for the Daily Record. “That’s non-negotiable, whoever it is. Alfredo Morelos’ goals have to be replaced.

“Also, how long can James Tavernier continue to post the numbers he does from full-back? He’s a freak of nature in that regard.

“At Rangers last season, the right-back was the top scorer. I’m sorry but that can’t happen. As good as it is for Tav, it’s a damning indictment of the team.”

Not good enough

It really is a strange scenario that Rangers find themselves in whereby right-back Tavernier is their leading goalscorer.

The captain does, of course, take their penalties and free-kicks, but it still represents a very worrying situation for Gers manager Michael Beale.

He will be delighted at Tavernier’s ability to find the back of the net with ease from the spot and from the edge of the box, but it really isn’t good enough that the club’s top scorer is their right-back.

Rangers need a top-class striker that is able to find the back of the net with ease, even more so following the exit of Colombian international Morelos.

Beale does have Antonio Colak to call upon, but the striker’s future at Ibrox is up in the air, despite the player finishing second in the scoring last season with 14 goals.

Sam Lammers has since been brought in to help fix this solution, but Beale could yet add further firepower to his squad in the coming months.

In other Rangers news, Ronald de Boer has sent Lammers a two-word message after the Dutch striker completed his move to the Gers.