
Derek Ferguson makes Cyriel Dessers admission after Rangers win v St Johnstone
Derek Ferguson has suggested that Cyriel Dessers’ recent up-turn in form at Rangers is because of an improved level of fitness under the management of Philippe Clement.
The Nigerian forward scored his eighth goal in Light Blue and his sixth in the Scottish Premiership in the Gers’ 2-0 win over St Johnstone on Wednesday (20 December) to continue a recent run of good goalscoring form.
Many had written of the 19-year-old as a flop given his slow start at Ibrox, but Ferguson has been impressed by his recent performances suggesting that the improved fitness levels under Clement may be responsible for his sharpness.

Speaking on Open Goal (21 December, 58:00) he said: “Do you know something? Maybe he’s becoming a wee bit fitter. You heard Clement talking about how he was disappointed in the fitness levels and what he expects, so maybe a five, 10 per cent fitter Dessers is going to show a bit more.
“Obviously, he scored again last night. I saw a wee clip of the goal. Maybe that wee bit of sharpness, fitness whatever you want to call it has made a bit of a difference.
“I’ve watched him since the start of the season and I thought he’s trying, he’s giving it his all, but is he good enough? He looks a happy chappy as well.”
Finding the net
Dessers’ performances at the start of the season at Ibrox made it seem as though Rangers had wasted a lot of money on a forward who was incapable of helping them lift the Scottish Premiership this season, but over the last few weeks, he’s managed to turn that around.
The striker’s goal against Real Betis showed excellent composure while his entire performance against St Johnstone was one of much greater quality than anything seen under Michael Beale’s management.

Maybe that improved fitness and greater belief under the management of Clement has got the best out of the centre-forward and this could be the start of a huge turnaround between now and the end of the Premiership season.
People take time to adapt to the Scottish game and maybe there was too much pressure on Dessers to hit the ground running. If he continues to perform like he did on Wednesday, the Rangers supporters will be singing his name proudly sooner rather than later.
In other Rangers news, Alex McLeish has admitted that some Gers players will be “gobsmacked” by the Celtic Park atmosphere