Michael Beale shares Rangers transfer hint on Rabbi Matondo future
Michael Beale has assured Rabbi Matondo he is capable of holding down a spot in the Rangers side following his impressive cameo appearance against Livingston.
Matondo replaced summer signing Sam Lammers in the 70th minute of Saturday’s [12 August] Scottish Premiership clash at Ibrox and set up Kieran Dowell’s goal to cap a 4-0 win.
The Wales international has been touted as a target for Leeds United [Football Insider], but Beale was pleased with what he saw from the attacker on his first outing of the season.
Speaking after the Livingston victory, Beale is quoted by the Daily Record as saying: “With Fashion Sakala and Ryan Kent moving on, this opens a space for Rabbi.
“But he’s got to take his opportunity. Today, he very much did that.”
Impact
Matondo played 19 times for Rangers in the league last season, but more than half of those appearances were as a substitute as he featured on 10 occasions from the bench [WhoScored].
When he was called upon, the 22-year-old simply did not make enough of an impact, assisting just four goals and scoring none. Matondo could therefore have few complaints when others were selected ahead of him for the big matches.
However, he helped to transform Rangers during his 20 minutes against Livingston, setting up Dowell’s goal at the end of a dominant period in which Beale’s men scored three times in a late flurry.
As pointed out by Beale, Sakala’s move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Fayha and Kent’s switch to Turkish heavyweights Fenerbahce ensures there should be more opportunities for Matondo this season.
Should he replicate his performance against Livi, in which his two key passes – despite playing under a quarter of the contest – were bettered by only Cyriel Dessers (3) [WhoScored], there is no reason why the Manchester City product cannot belatedly make his presence felt at Ibrox.
This is certainly one to watch.
In other Rangers news, midfielder John Lundstram has been ruled out of next week’s Champions League qualifying tie with Servette for personal reasons.