Cyriel Dessers welcomes the chase from Hamza Igamane amid a clamour for Rangers supporters for the new signing to be more involved.

The Nigerian has been the undisputed first pick for the Gers striking berth over the last year or so with Danilo struggling with repeated injury issues. Igamane was signed in the summer and has been gradually eased in with some sub appearances after overcoming an injury of his own and bedding into life in Scotland.

Fans have been pleased with what they’ve seen in the fleeting glimpses and would like to see more of the 21-year-old. But Dessers scored another two goals during the cup win over Dundee at the weekend to take his tally to the season to seven in nine games. He wants to keep his place in the team but is also pleased to see that there is now healthy competition.

He said: “I’m happy with that, actually. At a big club like Rangers there will always be competition. That’s good, because we play 65 games a season. Probably I will not play 65 games, all 90 minutes!

“So it’s really good that Hamza and Dani (Danilo) are here. I’m sure we will need them and that they will be ready at that moment. You can see Hamza, he has something. I can see it as well in training. When he comes in, he has something and I’m happy with that. We will need all of our strikers this season, and hopefully we can score a lot of goals – all of us.”

Dessers hit 22 goals despite criticism for his all round performances and missed chances and has started this season on fire too. He is happy with the way he is playing but insists he would rather target trophies than goals.

“Yeah, it’s decent form,” he insisted. “I’m happy with those stats. It’s good to start a season like this. I want to keep building on this.

“I don’t really have a target. My target is trophies. But, yeah, it would be nice to score more than last season.”

Rangers’ ‘difficult time’ must be exploited as Lyall Cameron and Dundee look to spoil Ibrox return party

Lyall Cameron made his Dundee debut at Ibrox and is now looking to make more positive memories at the stadium as the Dark Blues aim to bounce back after their first defeat of the season

Lyall Cameron is confident Dundee can use Ibrox to their advantage and hurt Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup tonight.

Rangers are back on home turf but the midfielder is looking for the Dark Blues to go there, frustrate and to try to book their place in the Hampden semi-finals. The Scotland Under-21 cap knows Rangers are going through a difficult time and that’s something he feels Dundee can exploit. Cameron said: “You need to play on that sort of thing. They aren’t having their best spell right now.

“Back at Ibrox their fans will want to see a reaction and see their team batter us, to be honest. But if we can frustrate them as much as we can, slow the game down, then the fans can get on them. That gives us an advantage. But, at the end of the day, it is the quarter-final of a cup and it’s a big goal for this club to get to Hampden.”

Dundee have made significant progress and the top six last season. The only thing missing has been a win over Rangers or Celtic. They got a home draw against the Light Blues and were 2-0 up against them on their last Ibrox visit before they eventually lost 5-2 in April.

“We have the mentality where if you lose one game you put it behind you and go again,” Cameron said. “We know it won’t be easy because Rangers have a lot to prove to their fans and we’ll be up against it.

“But we showed a couple of times against Rangers last season that we can hurt them. We were 2-0 up but unfortunately threw that one away.

“Get to a similar situation then hopefully handle it better, see the game out and it’s a cup game so the pressure is on – there’s no playing for draws, we need to try to win the game.

“Hopefully we have a go at them and show what we can do. We’ve shown we can compete against Rangers.”

The 21-year-old made his Ibrox debut in the same stage of this competition two years ago. A Steven Davis goal gave Rangers the win and now the attacking midfielder hopes it goes Dundee’s way.

Cameron said: “That was my first time playing at Ibrox. First time in a big stadium really because we were in the Championship that season. We drew Rangers away in the quarter-final so it’s the exact same situation. I was nervous for that one but I got over that.

“We conceded early and you obviously never want to do that in games like that. But we kept it 1-0 and kept ourselves in the game. This is what you need to do at these places, keep yourselves in the game and try to hit them on the break if you can.”

Dundee head to Ibrox looking to bounce back from their first setback of the season after they lost to Ross County. “After the performance at Ross County we need to show we can bounce back,” Cameron added. “It was a poor display up there. We want to put right what happened.”

Pundit impressed by new Rangers ace: “Like the look of him” as journalist discusses “Critical” Ibrox news

Cyriel Dessers’ place in the Rangers side is already set to come under threat by Hamza Igamane after the Moroccan’s performance at Dundee United, says Tam McManus.

The pundit explained how impressed he had been with the youngster on PLZ Soccer (16 September) and highlighted the striker as a positive for Philippe Clement’s embattled Light Blues side.

And with the weekend’s League Cup tie with Dundee the first back at Ibrox Alison McConnell cited another “critical” boost to the Gers when it was badly needed.

McManus said (32m): “Igamane coming on, I thought he looked good. I quite like the look of him if you’re a Rangers supporter. Igamane coming on, he can hold the ball up, he’s strong, he links the play. I thought Dessers was poor again.

“I think he’s gonna find his position under threat from Igamane because he came on for that little cameo against Celtic, looked okay, and then he came on [at Tannadice], looked strong, could hold it up, so he’s a positive for Rangers.”

McConnell then pointed to the early Ibrox return as a key development, saying: “Going back to Ibrox is big, given at one point there was speculation it was going to run until the turn of the year. Going back to Ibrox is critical. I think it will be a relief to get back.”

Hamza Igamane takes advantage of Danilo absence at Rangers

Rangers have had precious few reasons for positivity in recent weeks but Igamane has already shown signs of belatedly becoming a bright spot.

His signing was starting to look like an unwise use of what little transfer funds were available when Dessers was left as the only fully fit striker for the opening weeks of the season, with Igamane only making his debut off the bench in the Old Firm derby on 31 August.

But with Danilo ruled out of a month after suffering a set back and going for another knee operation [Chris Jack, 5 September] the 21-year-old has already shown flashes of quality that may vindicate Clement’s decision to spend the money while he was available and wait to bring him into the side.

Dessers was fairly important at Tannadice as Tom Lawrence’s goal secured a vital three points, and the Nigerian has ultimately proven to be crucial so far this term with five goals in all competitions while nobody else was available.

But if Igamane can build on his eye-catching introduction against the Tangerines he could end up being a vital reason for hope amid the chaos at Ibrox.

And having finally ended the tenancy at Hampden Park the timing of his introduction has coincided with the long-awaited homecoming to potentially spark something of a revival for Clement.

Nobody will be kidding themselves that the title race is immediately back on, with the gulf to Celtic made all too apparent at Parkhead before the international break.

But getting back on track and stringing together some results was a must after the derby and the first step has been achieved, with Igamane and an Ibrox return increasing the chances of following it up positively.

“Much More Attractive” than a Premier League club, according to Dave King, who is eyeing US and Saudi riches at Rangers.

Dave King wants Rangers investment from Saudi Arabia and the US as he puts himself forward to replace John Bennett as chairman for two years.

The former Ibrox chair told Chris Jack for the Rangers Review website on 16 September that he is willing to return temporarily after Bennett’s resignation on health grounds last week and insists the club are more attractive opportunity than English clubs such as Brighton or Sunderland.

He has ruled out Gers fans such as Bennett putting more cash into the club and has talked up interest from abroad.

He said: “There is some interest in the club at the moment, but I think we’ve got to get away from the model where we just rely on supporters writing out cheques. There is money out there, but that money is not going to come from Rangers.  We need to go and find other investors and bring them into the club. And I think that’s what we plan for the next two years.

“I’d be willing to do it. Yes, I would. I understand what’s involved. I’ll come in, stabilise it, get the right people in place, get the club working properly, at least give it direction, give it a plan. But part of that will be for me to find new investors who will come in and make a significant investment in the club.”

“I believe in chats that I’ve had there’s enough of an investor interest in those areas who are investing. Saudi, obviously, where Steven Gerrard is at the moment. There’s a lot of interest in football there.

“There’s a lot of interest in America still where they see football and sports generally as being good. Rangers are a far more attractive opposition, a far more attractive opportunity than, say, Sunderland or Brighton.

“We’re going to be in Europe and with the right amount of money, we really should be able to march on and actually dominate in Scotland.”

Dave King eyes Rangers chair role after John Bennett exit

Whether King finds a way back in at Ibrox or not the investment interest from abroad might be something that has legs if offers were to come forward.

John Gilligan has stepped into take Bennett’s place for now with the Light Blues in desperate need of some stability.

He is now tasked with finding a new chair as well as a chief executive, after Bennett saw advanced talks with St Mirren’s Jim Gillespie collapse [Daily Mail, 10 September] following James Bisgrove’s sudden exit to the Saudi Pro League this summer.

The financial gulf between the Gers and Celtic has been well documented after another title went to Parkhead last term and Philippe Clement’s side were knocked out of Champions League qualification in controversial circumstances this term.

So if there is viable interest in the club from abroad it may be something that needs to be investigated fully, whether by King or whoever is ultimately installed in the top jobs.

FFP regulations would necessarily temper the immediate impact in the transfer market but after Clement strained through the window with minimal room to manoeuvre it could ease the situation.

Whether Rangers are in fact a more attractive option than Brighton or Sunderland is perhaps open to debate.

The Seagull’s presence in the Premier League puts them on a different financial plane financially, as demonstrated by Clement’s inability to afford an Abdallah Sima return in the summer, while Sunderland have partially rebounded from their own recent struggles to be one step away from the English top flight.

But the size of Rangers and the Old Firm can’t be disputed so if the interest is there, and it was backed by the right intentions, it might need to be capitalised on.

Scottish pair and erstwhile Celtic target and Barcelona wonderkid are included in the esteemed top 100 list.

Hagi came off the bench to win his side a decisive penalty kick in their 3-1 win against Lithuania in the Nations League

Ianis Hagi showed Rangers fans just what they are missing after playing a pivotal role in Lithuania’s 3-1 win against Lithuania.

Mircea Lucescu’s men had gone into the game off the back of a handsome 3-0 victory against Kosovo in their Nations League C opener, but with just three minutes remaining on Monday night, looked like they would have to settle for a point against the Lithuanians. That was until Light Blues midfielder Hagi – who has been frozen out of the first team picture at Ibrox – appeared off the bench to win his team a crucial penalty.

The 25-year-old received the ball high on the right before moving towards the penalty area where he was brought down by Lithuania skipper Justas Lasickas. A spot kick was not immediately awarded, but following a VAR review the hosts were given a penalty which was duly dispatched by Razvan Marin before Alexandru Mitrita added a third in injury time.

After being deemed surplus to requirements by Philippe Clement, Hagi has kept himself fit by training with Rangers’ B team, who he also featured for in pre-season. The playmaker had been expected to move on during the summer transfer window but remained with the club beyond the deadline despite reported interest from clubs in his homeland.

Belgian boss Clement has excluded the Romania international from the Gers Europa League squad and Hagi has not appeared in a competitive fixture for the club since August 2023, having spent the whole of last season on loan at Alaves in La Liga. Hagi is still contracted with the Light Blues until 2026.

The Dundee boss, Luke McCowan, told Tony Docherty over the phone that he won’t just be a jersey filler at Celtic.

The attacking midfielder won a dream move to Parkhead on deadline night and made his debut against Rangers

Tony Docherty knows Luke McCowan has the mentality to shine at Celtic and won’t just be going to fill a jersey.

The attacking midfielder won his dream move on deadline night and then capped it by making his debut in the derby win over Rangers. McCowan will now use the international break to find his feet with the champions and will be gearing up for their return against Hearts a week on Saturday. Docherty has watched the 26-year-old play the best football of his career over the past season and a bit while at Dundee.

He is well aware he has the ability to make an impact with Brendan Rodgers’ side and also the mental strength, having been his stand-in captain at Dee, with Joe Shaughnessy out long-term. Docherty predicted: “He’ll go and be successful at Celtic, knowing his mentality, knowing his spirit. He will make sure that he does well there, he’s not just going there to fill a jersey, he’ll do well there because he’s got the mentality to do well.

“That’s the most rewarding part of the job when you’ve helped somebody along the way, not just me, all the staff. The staff need to take a great amount of credit for it and his team-mates too.”

McCowan admitted in the madness of it all he had only got five hours sleep. He wanted to go into Dundee on Monday to say his thank-yous and goodbyes to the staff but Docherty ordered him to catch up on his rest.

Doc said: “Obviously there’s mixed emotions regarding Luke because you don’t want to lose someone who is such a good player for you but for Luke I couldn’t be more happy, you’ve seen all the pictures and his reaction. He phoned me Saturday night and said he’d only five hours sleep, he’s absolutely running on adrenaline.

“He was actually meant to come see us on Monday but I said just get your head down, get a sleep, catch up on your hours and we’ll catch you another time. We are all absolutely delighted for him, you couldn’t ask for a better boy.”

Docherty might be the man of the frontline but he believes the success of McCowan goes to everyone at Dundee. McCowan becomes Dee’s fifth seven-figure sale, following Rab Douglas, Jack Hendry, Claudio Caniggia and Julian Speroni.

Doc said: “That was part of the team talk last Saturday. I told them they all played a part in getting him there. It should be rewarding for all of us when a player goes on because he’s done what he’s done with you successfully.

“He’s moved on to bigger things and that’s what you’re in it for – to develop and improve players. When that happens you can take a deal of satisfaction but all the credit goes to Luke and his team-mates.”

Docherty handed Simon Murray the armband and was pleased with the character his side showed against St Mirren at the weekend. They had not only lost their leader but dug in and came back from being a goal down to salvage a point.

It was enough to see the Dark Blues continue their unbeaten start. Doc said: “It just illustrates to me the strength of players, the performance level was very good.”