Sky Sports pundit sends warning to Rangers ace Todd Cantwell after being dropped v Kilmarnock
James McFadden has warned Todd Cantwell he faces a fight to get back his starting berth after he was dropped for Rangers’ Scottish Premiership opener at Kilmarnock.
Attacking midfielder Cantwell was a surprise omission from the starting XI at Rugby Park, with manager Michael Beale naming five new signings among his starting line-up, including Kieran Dowell.
Cantwell scored six goals and managed four assists in 16 Scottish Premiership outings last term after joining from Norwich City in January, but former Everton and Motherwell forward McFadden said he faces a tough ask to get back into the starting line-up.
“It’s always a challenge, it’s always the same when you’re trying to go and mount a title challenge you need to bring in players that are going to push the ones that are already there to make you stronger,” he said as a pundit on Sky Sports (5 August, 17:07).
“Cantwell was good last season there’s no doubt about it but he finds himself on the bench, he’s got a fight on his hands now to work his way back into the side because the players on his pitch are the ones with an opportunity.
“So it’s up to the players on the pitch to do the job and Cantwell has to be patient to force his way back into the side.”
His time will come
It was certainly a surprise to see the pre-match team news and see Todd Cantwell’s name among the substitutes bench, even accounting for the face Michael Beale has signed nine new players during the transfer window already.
Cantwell excelled at Ibrox after joining in January and became a fans’ favourite with his attacking prowess, and he contributed goals and assists to the Rangers cause.
James McFadden makes a fair point that those handed the shirt for the first game are the ones who will have the opportunity to nail down a spot in the starting XI.
But surely at some point Cantwell will get his chance again, and when that arrives it is imperative that he displays what he is capable of if he wants to get his name back into the line-up.
What will please Rangers fans is seeing a squad with the sort of depth that means Cantwell can be named among the substitutes.
In other Rangers news, Fashion Sakala is now in direct talks to quit Ibrox.