Ridvan Yilmaz wows BBC pundit with ‘unbelievable’ action in Rangers v Livingston
Ridvan Yilmaz amazed Lee McCulloch with his “unbelievable” attempt to lob Shamal George as Rangers beat Livingston 3-0.
Starting on the bench for the first SPFL match in seven the Turkish international came on late and almost added a stunning fourth as he hit a first-time shot off the underside of the Livi bar from range.
McCulloch said (4.46pm): “That was an unbelievable effort from Yilmaz there. The ball’s fell to him maybe 25-30 yards out and you’re thinking, ‘Take a touch’.
“He’s hit it first time and he’s nearly lobbed Shamal George there, just coming off the bar. That was a tremendous effort there, just so unlucky for him…
“I think he [George] knew as it came off his foot he was beaten, and he just sort of watched it hit the underside of the bar and come back out to the edge of the 18-yard box.”
Rangers career at all-time high for Yilmaz
In light of heavy interest from Galatasaray he could still technically leave with the Turkish transfer window still open past the UK Deadline Day it is surely not going to happen now.
The inability to bring in a left-back during the winter window, coupled with the strongest run of form Yilmaz has shown in a Rangers shirt, would make Philippe Clement loath to lose the 22-year-old.
Borna Barisic didn’t really do anything wrong against David Mardindale’s side but in a game where his defensive abilities weren’t tested at all and he was able to swing in balls from the left he didn’t stand out in an hour as much as Yilmaz did in half that time.
Clearly long-range strikes off the bar aren’t the top priority for a left-back at Ibrox but it was evidence of the confidence he currently has with the manager giving him sustained first-team action.
Ahead of the summer both he and his Croatian counterpart’s futures remain uncertain but just as the exit links for Yilmaz have become the strongest he is finally looking like the player he was meant to be at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, the club have already reached an agreement to make another new signing.
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