Rangers: Philippe Clement tipped to hand Todd Cantwell start in new selection twist v Benfica
Rangers manager Philippe Clement will name Todd Cantwell in his starting XI for the Gers’ Europa League showdown with Benfica, according to Barry Ferguson.
The Light Blues face the Portuguese giants in the second leg of their round of 16 clash on Thursday (14 March) with the tie evenly poised at 2-2 thanks to goals from Tom Lawrence and Dujon Sterling in the first match.
While Clement confirmed that Cantwell would return to the fold having recovered from injury, the Belgian refused to confirm in what capacity, but Ferguson believes that the Englishman will be introduced from teh start at Ibrox.
Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show (13 March, 28:15) he said: “You’ve put me under a bit of pressure. I think he might put him [Cantwell] in from the start, I really do.”
Will Todd Cantwell be fit to start for Rangers against Benfica in the Europa League?
Since the winter break, there have been few players in the Rangers squad who have performed as well as Cantwell has. The attacking midfielder has gone from strength to strength under Clement after a slow start under the Belgian.
When the former Norwich man is in the team, the Gers always look a better side and in a game that could be as season-defining as Thursday night’s clash, it would make perfect sense for Clement to restore him to the starting XI.
With the likes of Lawrence, Fabio Silva and Kemar Roofe in the squad, there are plenty of players ready and waiting in the wings to replace the 26-year-old if he begins to tire and fatigue in the second half.
In these sorts of European ties, Clement needs players who can turn a game on its head in a split second with one action. While Lawrence and Silva are both capable of those moments, no player in Light Blue does it more consistently than Cantwell.
Hopefully, Ferguson will be right and the Englishman will be fit to start on Thursday evening.
In other Rangers news, Ferguson has shared an update on Abdallah Sima’s fitness after he returned to training recently
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