Derek Clark ponders Cyriel Dessers selection in Rangers v Dundee as ‘step up to the plate’ verdict shared
Journalist Derek Clark expects Cyriel Dessers to return to the starting line-up when Rangers host Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday (9 December).
The much-maligned Dessers was dropped from the starting line-up as the Gers defeated Hearts 1-0 in midweek, with Danilo chosen to start as the central striker instead.
However, Danilo suffered a knee injury in that game that manager Philippe Clement said might need surgery. With Kemar Roofe not fully fit yet either, Clark – writing for the Rangers Review (8 December) thinks Dessers will get the nod.
“The news that Danilo is out with a knee injury is a massive blow for an already depleted squad,” he wrote.
“He may have missed two sitters against Hearts on Wednesday but the Brazilian is still Rangers’ best attacking option. It means a likely opportunity for Kemar Roofe and Cyriel Dessers to step up to the plate. Given Clement said Roofe isn’t fit enough to play 90 minutes we can assume Dessers will get the nod.”
Joshua Barrie also tipped Dessers to get the nod even though some fans are clamouring for the in-form Abdallah Sima to start centrally.
“Will Rabbi Matondo come into the team and allow Sima to move centrally? This writer expects it’s as likely to be the front four that started against St Mirren last weekend, with Dessers filling in up top, even if many would prefer to see Sima move centrally,” he wrote.
Most likely option
Dessers has been a much-maligned figure at Rangers since joining from Cremonese in the summer and has just six goals to his name in all competitions this season, not the sort of return expected of a striker at Ibrox.
The truth is that a fully fit Danilo offers more in terms of dynamism and goal threat but the reality is he is now unavailable again and leaves Philippe Clement pretty short of options up front.
Abdallah Sima has been in excellent form, a rare bright spot of the Michael Beale summer signings, but it seems a risk to move him centrally when he has been absolutely flying coming in from the left and complementing the central striker.
So, all signs point towards Dessers getting the nod and, in truth, Rangers should have more than enough to get the job done and Ibrox – there are tougher tests coming up though and whether or not he is the man to get the goals really does remain to be seen.
In other Rangers news, Derek Ferguson was “raging” after footage emerged of what Sam Lammers did in the win over Hearts.