Danny Rohl must back ‘different class’ Rangers star who could make the difference against Kilmarnock
Danny Rohl seeks his first win as Gers head coach on Sunday evening.
Rangers play Kilmarnock in Rohl‘s first outing as Gers boss at Ibrox, in what is sure to be a warm welcome for the German.
Rohl’s appointment has lifted spirits around Glasgow, but Rangers’ 3-0 defeat to Brann was a reality check on the sheer amount of work that the head coach has in front of him.
Against Brann, Rohl opted to play his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, as Nico Raskin looks set to play an important role once more for the Bears.
Ahead of the clash against Killie, Rohl has the option to put his arm around one man in particular, who has the potential to revive his Rangers career.
Danny Rohl needs to give Connor Barron a chance
Rohl chose to play Joe Rothwell alongside Raskin as the two deep-lying midfielders against Brann on Thursday night, as Connor Barron was used as a substitute.
Barron didn’t pull up any trees in his first season with Rangers last campaign, but neither did many other players.
- Barron played 45 times for Gers last season in all competitions
- He’s only started on four occasions for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this season
- Rohl brought Barron on for Rothwell in the 63rd minute against Brann
In September 2024, while speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Derek Ferguson called Barron “different class” following the midfielder’s performances shortly after joining the Gers from Aberdeen.
Since Ferguson‘s comments then, it’s been a bit of a fall from grace for Barron at Ibrox, as the midfielder has failed to have a significant effect in many Rangers games in recent memory.
Luckily for him, Rohl could be the perfect head coach to get the best out of him, starting with Kilmarnock.
Rohl’s system suits Barron perfectly
Rohl demands a high press with lots of intensity from his midfielders, and while Raskin fits the bill, Rothwell doesn’t.
This is where Barron could come into play, as the 23-year-old has all the makings to fit Rohl’s style of play.
| Games | Ground duels won per game | Tackles per game | Average rating |
| 28 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 6.91 |
He is a bullish midfielder and likes to get himself about, with tackles, interceptions, and plenty of running, which could be essential to get the best out of Raskin and others.
Killie will almost certainly look to hurt Rangers on the counterattack, and Barron could be key to stopping that from happening.
Barron isn’t predicted to start against Kilmarnock, but if he does, Rohl will have made the right move, and Gers fans will see that.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @ibroxnews247