BBC Sportscene pundit Marvin Bartley raises ‘massive’ problem Rangers face after win vs Kilmarnock
Abdallah Sima will be a “massive miss” for Rangers while away on Africa Cup of Nations Duty, according to Marvin Bartley.
The Senegal forward played his final game for the Gers on Tuesday (2 January) before linking up with his country for Africa Cup of Nations Duty.
Sima marked the occasion with a superb goal as Rangers saw off Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox to put their loss against Celtic firmly behind them.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene [2 December], Bartley said: “He’ll be a massive miss. He’s really grown into the Rangers shirt now.
“He linked up well with [Ridvan] Yilmaz and was just fantastic. Away from the goal, his all-round game was good and he’s a constant threat.”
On Sima’s brilliantly taken strike, Bartley said: “Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say ‘there’s not a lot you can do about that’.
“Some people have said the first touch is lucky, others that it was meant – the volley was definitely meant. That’s a fantastic finish.”
Others needs to step up
Sima has been the best of Rangers’ outfield summer signings and will undoubtedly be missed.
Senegal’s final group game is on 23 January, but they are expected to advance to the knockouts so it will likely be February before he is back.
The 22-year-old’s form of late could be a bad thing for Rangers, as he is only on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Should he keep it up, there will no doubt be competition to land his signature on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign.
While still raw at times, his goal against Kilmarnock was right out of the top drawer in a game in which he was the best player on the field.
Philippe Clement has other wide players to call on – Rabbi Matondo being one who is raring to get going – but he may want another new signing or two.
Whether it is a new player or one of those already on the fringes, someone else now needs to nail down that spot on the left-hand side of attack.
In other Rangers news, a Sky Sports News reporter made a “ruined” joke after something that happened in the win over Kilmarnock.