Danilo proves undisputed role for Rangers after performance in 3-0 win v Dundee United, now impossible to axe
Rangers striker Danilo could now be considered Philippe Clement’s go-to option for the foreseeable future after his rampant display against Dundee United.
Clement continued his unbeaten start as Rangers manager with a dominant 5-0 Scottish Premiership victory at Dundee on Wednesday night (1 November) – a game which started 45 minutes late and was then halted after flares were set off in the away end.
Goals from the former Feyenoord striker, Ryan Jack, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier meant the Gers maintained their five-point gap from Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table.
Danilo has scored in back-to-back games for the Gers for the first time since arriving in the summer, having followed up his dramatic winner against Hearts with another strike at Dens Park.
Sky Sports pundit Mark Wilson, speaking on Thursday (Sky Sports News, 2 November) now expects the former Michael Beale favourite to continue as Clement’s first-choice option because he’s a real “handful” in comparison to Dessers.
He said: “It’s always great if you’re a player and in your first six games you’re man of the match in three of them, everything is rosy in the garden. The reality is, it’s very seldom like that.
“When you go to a big club like Rangers with the microscope on you, and there’s a price tag that’s hanging over your head, it becomes that extra difficult.
“Dessers has taken a bit of time to settle, while Danilo looks a real handful – I think he’ll be Clement’s number one up top.”
Rangers spent a large amount of money in the summer on very little in terms of their attacking players.
Dessers, Danilo and Lammers have each shared a number of criticisms for their starts to their Ibrox careers, but all three were on target in a morale-boosting win over Dundee.
Dessers has stepped up under the Belgian, but Danilo looks a different player since returning from a head injury lay-off, coinciding with Michael Beale’s sacking and Clement’s appointment.
The 24-year-old has scored two goals in 147 minutes of action under Clement [WhoScored], with his start against Dundee just his third of the Scottish Premiership season.
But, it’s his all-round game which will now cement him as Clement’s go-to man.
As per SofaScore, the Brazilian recorded four key passes, successfully completed 92% of his passes, won 100% of his dribbles, recorded five shots on target and won four of his five ground duels in a complete performance.
While Dessers and Lammers have certainly picked up some sort of form, Danilo has always offered much more when he starts and it’s that cutting-edge play that certainly now makes him an undisputed starter in Clement’s side.
That’s one squad jigsaw puzzle that the Belgian coach has solved.
In other Rangers news, a BBC Sport pundit has offered his prediction ahead of the Scottish League Cup semi-final with Hearts after what he saw on Wednesday (1 November).