Todd Cantwell Rangers future in the balance after brutal axe wielded by Philippe Clement as footage emerges
Todd Cantwell’s future at Rangers could be hanging in the balance after he was substituted in the first-half by Philippe Clement against Aris Limassol.
The attacking midfielder was named in the starting lineup on the right wing and had a relatively dull performance in the opening half hour, before Gers fell behind to a Shavy Babicka goal at Ibrox.
Clement was quick to try and shake up the team and brought on youngster Ross McCausland after just 36 minutes, taking off the former Norwich City man despite there being no obvious injury and others playing equally as badly if not worse.
Cantwell took his gloves off in anger as he stomped off the pitch and while he did shake Clement’s hand as he came off, he threw his jacket to the ground before sitting on the bench in a strop.
The decision paid off though, as McCausland score dhis first senior goal just three minutes into the second half to bring the team level.
With plenty of chatter about his position on the right being one he isn’t at his best in, and the manager clearly not afraid to make an example out of him, it could be that his future at the club is now hanging in the balance.
Cantwell is undoubtedly one of our most talented players and he consistently makes a difference to our attacking play, but something is clearly wrong right now.
With McCausland being handed a new long-term contract it’s clear that the manager is a big fan of him, and the January transfer window is just around the corner meaning areas the manager deems weak will be considered and potentially strengthened.
If Cantwell is to fall down the pecking order we could very well see him push for an exit, and Clement doesn’t strike us as the type of manager who will stand in his way.
The reasoning behind the decision to substitute Cantwell may well have been just to send a message to him and the rest of the squad for their performance, but it could have long-term reprecussions on the future of the player.
In other Rangers news, player ratings vs Aris as one man stinks out Ibrox with 1/10 performance.