Philippe Clement won’t believe his Rangers luck after Connor Barron development
Philippe Clement will be over the moon at Rangers as Scotland finished their UEFA Nations League duties with Connor Barron not playing a single minute over the November international break.
The 22-year-old arrived at Ibrox on a free transfer from Aberdeen last summer and has become an essential cog in the side this year.
He was an unused substitute as Scotland beat Poland 2-1 on Monday night (18 November), as he was for the 1-0 win over Croatia last week.
Barron has yet to make his senior bow for the national side since his first call-up in September, but this will come much to the relief of Clement, who will rely on his star midfielder ahead of a pivotal period heading into the New Year.
Connor Barron can be the key for Philippe Clement at Rangers
Clement faces a make-or-break period for his Rangers tenure after the international break, and having Barron return from duty unscathed will be a welcome boost for the Belgian.
The Light Blues have been heavily criticised this season. The side sit nine points adrift of Celtic and Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and all hope of a title push this term remains unlikely.
However, Barron himself has been singled out for scrutiny this year, and his ability to rise above the noise and establish himself as a key member of the squad is a testament to his character.
While Nicolas Raskin and Mohammed Diomande have been forced to compete for a starting berth, Barron has remained a mainstay in the Gers midfield.
He has all the tools to become an integral cog in the side for years to come. While he may feel disappointed not to have walked out onto the pitch for Scotland, his first senior cap will come eventually. For now, his focus must be on helping Clement salvage what remains of the campaign at Ibrox.
It could be that Clement jumps before he is pushed. The Belgian’s future has been a topic of debate throughout the majority of the season, but the Daily Record [18 November] reported that he has emerged as a frontrunner for the soon-to-be vacant Belgium job.
Whether Clement would jump at the chance to manage his native Belgium remains to be seen. However, with the Europa League now the primary focus for Rangers and tough matches against Nice and Tottenham on the horizon, he must prioritise securing the side’s progress to the knockout stages of the competition.
Barron will undoubtedly play a major role and look to prove he can be a capable performer in Europe after his damning error in the 4-1 loss against Lyon.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart raves about John Souttar after what the Gers ace did for Scotland against Poland.
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