Rangers: Lawrence Shankland, Cyriel Dessers verdicts sparked by ‘astonishing’ Ibrox events
Lawrence Shankland would have scored six Rangers goals if he had been playing against Ross County instead of Cyriel Dessers, according to Kris Boyd.
The Sky Sports pundit said in his Scottish Sun column on 16 February that the 3-1 victory was “astonishing” how many attempts the Light Blues had at Ibrox on Wednesday (14 February), and while he increasingly pleased with what the summer signing, who scored twice, is doing for the club he couldn’t help noticing what is lacking.
Hearts captain Shankland was heavily linked to Rangers for weeks before the January transfer window passed without a move materialising, and continues to be so.
Boyd said: “To have 43 shots at goal, and 23 on target, is astonishing. But to finish that match having scored only three felt like a missed opportunity.
“Cyriel Dessers has grown on me and has been in form since the winter break. He’s having to take on a lot of responsibility with Abdallah Sima and Danilo out, and never hides.
“Dessers scored two against County on Wednesday but should have had at least double that. It makes you wonder what the final score would have been if Rangers had Lawrence Shankland in their team?
“I’ve no idea how close a January deal was for the Hearts striker but Clement could do with a finisher of that calibre. Without being disrespectful to County, Shankland would have scored SIX in midweek.
“Dessers is a modern striker. He runs the channels, keeps central defenders busy and tries to link the play. But there’s still a place in the game for a penalty-box finisher and that’s what Rangers lacked against County.”
Shankland missing for Rangers in ‘astonishing’ win vs Ross County
If it weren’t for the fact that Dessers arrived at Ibrox with high expectations and then spent weeks flattering to deceive he might not be in the spotlight over the midweek win.
On a night where George Wickens made 19 saves [BBC Sport, 14 February] the Nigerian striker didn’t do a huge amount wrong on a number of opportunities that didn’t end up in the net.
And the fact that Rangers appeared to have an ideal opportunity, at home to the 19th-placed side, to boost their goal difference and go above Celtic at the top of the table has no doubt heightened the scrutiny.
Having said that a number nine looked like the top requirement heading into January and despite both Dessers and Fabio Silva doing good things since it still would have been preferable to add on.
Shankland would be top of the list for plenty of fans, and with 24 goals this season it’s not hard to see why, but Rangers appeared to have other priorities in the winter window.
As the 28-year-old Scot has rejected all Tynecastle contract extensions he may still be on the cards in the summer, even though the Jambos deny there was ever any offer last month.
It is quite possible that at Ibrox on Wednesday Shankland himself would have be thwarted by Wickens repeatedly, but until either Dessers or Silva can start to score at a similar rate it is inevitable that thoughts will continue to drift towards Edinburgh.
In other Rangers news, the “writing’s on the wall” now for a senior first-team player who is on the way out.
For more Rangers news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.