Rangers: O’Neill questions if Philippe Clement will axe Ross McCausland
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has questioned whether Ross McCausland will be able to “stay in the team at Rangers”.
McCausland has earned his first senior call-up to the Northern Ireland national team following a string of impressive performances for the Gers.
The 20-year-old made his first start for Phillipe Clement during a 2-0 win against Livingston on Sunday 12 November, after clearly impressing his new manager with his positive displays from the bench.
O’Neill has questioned whether he can keep his place in Rangers’ team while backing him to make an impact internationally.
“He’s an exciting young player. He just has to continue in the vein of form that he’s in and certainly, a change in manager seems to have helped him and he’s making the most of it. It’s up to him now, really. Can he stay in the team at Rangers?” (Daily Record, 15 November).
“He’s not a boy who is short in confidence anyhow, so it’s good to have him in. He’s a confident lad who can add something.”
Belief
McCausland’s call-up to the international stage can only be a boost for Rangers and Clement. The youngster’s confidence and belief is clearly sky-high right now and this will only add to that.
Should he get some minutes on the pitch for Nothern Ireland during the international break, it will do him the world of good going forward.
Not only will the call-up and potential time on the pitch give his confidence a significant boost, but the high praise from manager O’Neill will also go a long way. The suggestion from O’Neill that it is now up to McCausland is also spot on.
The youngster has done the hard bit by breaking into both Rangers’ and Northern Ireland’s set-up, and he now must work hard to keep his place, while also making sure he keeps his feet on the ground.
It is easy for such fast progress to get to a young player’s head. However, Clement will certainly do everything in his power to make sure McCausland develops in the right way.
In other Rangers news, one Gers player could generate the club some “good money” during January.