Ross McCausland has ‘real opportunity’ for first Rangers start vs Sparta Prague after Philippe Clement comments to fans
Ross McCausland has a “real opportunity” to get his first start for Rangers against Sparta Prague after his manager spoke “really highly” of him to fans this week, according to Stevie Clifford.
The man behind official club partner 4 Lads Had A Dream told the Rangers Review preview of the Europa League clash on 9 November that Philipe Clement had been highly positive about the winger at the Fans Forum on Monday (6 November).
So with Scott Wright having picked up an injury late in his goalscoring performance against Hearts at the weekend it is now a big chance for 20-year-old McCausland to make his full Gers debut at Ibrox.
Clifford said (19m 20s): “Do you know who there’s a real opportunity for tonight, and I really hope he gets it? Ross McCausland should be playing and should be starting on that right side.
“Let’s not shuffle somebody over, let’s not play somebody that’s not natural. The young lad’s deserved an opportunity, why not give him it tonight and see what he can do?
“What’s the worst thing that can happen? He doesn’t do well and he doesn’t really perform. You can make a change at half time, you can bring Todd Cantwell on or bring somebody else on.
“Put McCausland in there, give him an opportunity. [Clement] spoke really highly over him at the fans forum the other night, and he’s spoken highly of him before. Now’s the opportunity.
“Ross McCausland’s not a young boy, he’s 20. Let’s get him in, give him an opportunity.”
Absolutely
McCausland has performed encouragingly off the bench in the past four SPFL matches, and with that his most sustained run of first-team action it is clear that Clement is impressed by him.
The wide man has certainly benefited to the endless injury issues at Ibrox, with Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence unavailable, and a new issue for Wright could be about to fall his way too.
The conservative decision might be to shift Cantwell out wide, or to play narrower and field two strikers, but the Englishman hasn’t been in his best form lately and aside from Danilo and Abdallah Sima the senior forward options have struggled.
If ever there was a time for the new manager to prove to players on the periphery of the squad that they can play themselves into the side then it would appear to be now.
Even if McCausland doesn’t set the game alight in what would clearly be a tough match against Sparta it would likely give him confidence that he can earn another opportunity, and motivate others who are in similar positions to follow suit.
Even Wright himself has already taken advantage of the very same outlook, having appeared finished as a going concern under Michael Beale, and his sudden run of form has been highly beneficial.
A Thursday night game under the lights at Ibrox might seem a big occasion to throw an inexperienced player in to for his first start, but Clifford is right that the Northern-Irishman isn’t a teenager and would seem to have earned his shot.
In other Rangers news, the club’s hopes of signing a “real asset” from the Premier League have “perversely” been damaged by positive news at Ibrox this week.