Cyriel Dessers’ status as Rangers’ No1 striker this term has had more to do with circumstances than his suitability for the role.

With Danilo unable to regain full fitness following the knee injury he sustained last season, the selection of the Nigeria international has been a case of Hobson’s choice for manager Philippe Clement.

The luckless Brazilian managed the sum total of 69 minutes across two games before undergoing more surgery on his troublesome limb — a development that led to Clement excluding him from the Europa League squad.

Dessers has started seven of the eight competitive matches so far this term, playing the full 90 minutes on five occasions.

Those determined to accentuate the positives in the debate which constantly surrounds Dessers have never had any shortage of material to throw in the faces of the critics.

In his first season after signing from Cremonese for £4.5m last year under Michael Beale, he managed 22 goals. In the opening six games of this campaign, he found the net five times. From a distance, that’s a healthy return.

Yet as impressive as those statistics may be, they don’t tell the whole story. Ten of Dessers’ goals in his first year came against bottom six or lower league opposition in cup competitions.

Given the same number of chances, a more accomplished forward would have hit between 30 and 40 goals. There’s a reason why the 29-year-old’s career prior to moving to Glasgow was largely spent with lesser-known sides in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.

His display for 65 minutes at Tannadice on Sunday was characteristic of his time at the club. A fine through ball to assist Tom Lawrence for the only goal of the game early on was the only highlight.

With his heavy touches, uncertainty in the box and questionable hold-up play becoming more apparent by the minute, Dundee United had hope in the second half when they really should have had none.

But it wasn’t just the fact that their side ultimately prevailed in the match which put a spring in the step of the travelling supporters as they made for the exits.

Hidden from public view until the contest at Celtic Park three weeks ago was effectively over, Hamza Igamane made a striking impression in the 25 minutes he was afforded after replacing Dessers on Tayside.

While the time it’s taken the Moroccan to get up to speed since signing from FAR Rabat for £2m in July has been a source of frustration for the Light Blue legions, it does appear that Clement’s patience will now be rewarded.

While the 21-year-old is by no means the finished article, he is strong, mobile and skilful and quick off the mark.

Given he’s still adapting to the Scottish game after two years playing in the top flight in Morocco, Clement’s plea for caution in this instance is partly understandable.

But the simple fact is that Igamane showed up far better at Tannadice than the man he replaced. Accordingly, he deserves to make his first start against Dundee at Ibrox in the Premier Sports Cup.

Clement certainly believes the player has a big future in the game. Speaking when the player joined in early July, he said: ‘We believe he will be a great asset to our squad. He has a lot of talent and potential and he will bring a fresh presence to our attacking options.

‘We know it will be a big change in culture and a new country for Hamza to adapt to, but as a club we will support him on and off the pitch to settle in here.’

His cameo display on Sunday suggested he’s now made that adjustment.

While Igamane remains a work in progress, Rangers feel he can eventually develop into a player worth a multiple of the fee they paid.

And unlike the case of Alfredo Morelos, they will eventually look to sell him for a big fee when the time is right.

In the here and now, though, Clement looks to have an exciting prospect on his hands.

Back in his homeland too, there is real excitement about what Igamane can do at Ibrox and, by extension, for the reputation of Moroccan football in Europe.

So, what can Rangers fans expect if he’s given a run in the side?

While Igamane’s versatility saw him play across the front line for his club last term, seasoned observers of his talent believe he’s better as a second striker with licence to roam.

His style of play has drawn comparisons with players like Memphis Depay and Marcus Rashford although his liking for winning physical battles in the box may have shades of peak Morelos.

Despite only being 21, he has significant experience. He’s played for his previous club in African cup competitions and won the African Cup with the Moroccan Olympic team.

That should bode well for his time at Rangers — as should the passion for the game in his homeland.

Clement should have fewer concerns about throwing him in from the start this weekend than a week ago.

A competent if unspectacular performance against United eased a lot of the angst and anger that came after the loss to Celtic.

While there was never going to be a welcome party waiting back at Ibrox after a stuffy win, it at least ensured the angry mob which rounded on the players after their loss at Parkhead took the day off.

While his side’s bright start did taper off, Rangers were still good value for the win that cut the gap to Celtic and Aberdeen to five points.

If a lack of efficiency in front of goal contributed to an unnecessarily nervous finale, the positive for Clement was that his side looked watertight at the back.

A fourth clean sheet in eight outings was derived from honest toil on the training pitch. With Robin Propper and Jefte still acclimatising to their new environment, Clement will hope his side demonstrate the same level of defensive assurance when they face the other team on Tayside.

A return to Ibrox, albeit with the Copland Road stand still closed, will feel like another timely boost for all concerned.

For those in attendance, seeing a new hero in the front line would make the first game back at their spiritual home all the sweeter.

Chris Jack: A ‘well-known & respected’ Rangers shareholder will regularly attend Ibrox under Gilligan

George Letham is expected to be a regular at Ibrox as he carries out an advisory role for Rangers under new chairman John Gilligan, according to Chris Jack.

The Rangers Review journalist reported for the outlet’s website on 17 September that the 4.98 per cent shareholder will have an involvement “going forward” after John Bennett’s sudden resignation on health grounds.

Gilligan is set to continue the hunt for a replacement to James Bisgrove at CEO as a priority during his temporary stint as chairman, after the Englishman “stunned” the club by leaving for the Saudi Pro League in the summer [Scottish Sun, 30 May].

Dave King has touted himself for a two-year return as chairman following Bennett’s exit [Rangers Review, 15 September, but he is expected to be turned down by the current Ibrox board [Daily Record, 16 September].

George Letham is Rangers advisor as Dave King on the outside

It appears the Light Blues are going to be moving forward with something of a skeleton crew at the top of the hierarchy, with those involved doing so out of obligation in a time of need.

That seems far from ideal so even if King is going to be kept on the outside looking in there is an obvious need for appointments to be made on greater than a short-term basis.

It remains to be seen whether links to Adrian Bevington [David Tanner, 10 September] as potential new chief executive develop into concrete talks in the wake of Bennett’s exit.

Dave King lays out a two-year strategy and plans a remarkable comeback as the Rangers chairman.

The South African has offered to replace John Bennett who stood down.

Dave King admits he’s open to a stunning return to Rangers as chairman as he mapped out a two year plan including attracting foreign investment.

John Bennett stepped down from his position as chair earlier this weekend for health reasons which saw John Gilligan take control of the post in the interim. But South African King, 61, would be open to a shock comeback at Ibrox as he believes he can help steady the ship amid a disappointing start to the season.

The Daily Record report that King believes he’d be the ideal man to step in and he laid out a plan to attract new investors within a two-year timeframe. He said: “I think I might be the best person to do it for two years,” he said. “I don’t want to do it for four or five years – but I know the club well enough and I do think it’s a two-year job.

“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, 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. We need people at this stage that understand the club, understand the operations, are willing to take it on.

“My thoughts have always been not to (return as chairman), because I felt I’d done my crisis. Quite frankly, I didn’t expect a crisis to happen again in my lifetime. But a stranger can’t come in.

“There’s no point in getting a guy from London and paying him £200,000 a year to be the chairman of the club. So I’ve rethought it. I’ve spoken to some other people who I think would like me to come back.”

Gillespie’s decision to stay at St. Mirren following the Rangers CEO’s job link reassured Robinson.

Stephen Robinson has admitted his major relief as Jim Gillespie is set to stay at St Mirren despite interest from Rangers.

The experienced businessman was a leading candidate for the vacant chief executive post at Ibrox but pulled out of the running and will remain in post as vice-chairman in Paisley.

“I don’t speak to Jim about anything other than St Mirren and we’ve continued to have that dialogue all throughout this year. Jim’s never wavered from St Mirren with me.

“All we spoke about his signings and the next window and the next piece of the jigsaw we can put at the training ground or the academy. So yes, superb news for me.”

While Gillespie is no longer in the running for a move along the M8 to Ibrox, Robinson would not be surprised to see the highly-rated operator targeted by other clubs as he urged St Mirren to make the most of having him while he remains in Paisley.

“Jim’s a very successful businessman,” said Robinson responding to the suggestion of a lukewarm reaction from Rangers supporters over Gillespie being linked with the club.

“He’s got a lot of experience in running big companies and turning them around. I have no doubt he’ll be on the radar of other people as well, as Rangers potentially.

“While we’ve got that focus and that drive, we have to embrace it. I can’t work on anybody else’s opinions. All I can say is, from St Mirren’s point of view, I think it’s a massive plus.”

Bennett may have avoided embarrassment by approving the “outstanding” £3.4 million deal: observe

Rangers’ summer rebuild could probably have done with going on another couple of weeks.

The Ibrox squad has been revamped under the stewardship of Philippe Clement, Nils Koppen and John Bennett this summer but there remains big questions around the work that’s been done.

And the work that hasn’t.

Several of the club’s most experienced players have moved on, whilst those youthful figures who’ve come in haven’t done enough to convince Rangers supporters of their credentials to date.

The pressure is rising, the scrutiny too, and Rangers manager Clement will soon feel the wrath if he cannot salvage some good feeling from a season careering towards a cliff edge.

But in the final hours of the summer window, with many on the jury already delivering their verdict, could the Ibrox leadership’s salvation have come in the shape of a £3.4m Albanian?

‘Outstanding’ Nedim Bajrami is a ‘big talent’

Rangers fans haven’t had much to cheer about in the last few weeks but excitement over the addition of Nedim Bajrami is certainly building.

The attacking midfielder has been impressing on international duties with Albanian media lauding Bajrami following the nation’s 2-1 win ‘away’ to Ukraine in the Czech Republic.

Now, it’s been the turn of Albania’s Brazilian coach Sylvinho to hail the ‘outstanding’ Nedim and according to the former Arsenal and Barcelona left-back, the Gers have a ‘big talent’ on their hands.

These are comments which are building excitement amongst Rangers fans eager to see what Bajrami can bring to the squad.

“I thought the performance from Nedim Bajrami against Ukraine was outstanding,” Sylvinho said as quoted by the Daily Record. “He is clearly a big talent.

We were very satisfied with Bajrami’s performance, he can play in many roles for us.

“I have noticed that his all-round game has improved. He can do a lot with the ball.

“He helped us produce a really excellent result against a huge nation like Ukraine. We continue to improve and I think that was one of our best results in recent years.”

Rangers have no time to waste with £3.4m playmaker

Most Rangers fans had probably only heard of Nedim Bajrami once before his name started doing the rounds ahead of transfer deadline day.

The 25-year-old is famous for scoring the fastest goal in European Championships history at this summer’s tournament in Germany.

But beyond that, Rangers fans won’t have known much about the Swiss-born Albanian who is – for all intents and purposes – the Ibrox side’s marquee signing this summer.

The Gers signed off on the £4m+ deal to sign Mohamed Diomande in January, whilst the £1.7m spent on Hamza Igamane isn’t expected to see returns till a little further down the line.

Oscar Cortes is another loan-to-buy whose transfer appeal relies on the long-term.

So then it’s Nedim Bajrami, a £3.5m permanent signing (Sky Sports) from freshly relegated Serie B club Sassuolo, who is the club’s marquee addition.

Following last weekend’s disastrous 3-0 defeat to Celtic, Rangers fans are licking their wounds with scant optimism around a new-look team which has so far failed to stand up to any major test.

Out-of-form Hearts held the Gers to a 0-0 draw, the Champions League campaign was laughable for a number of reasons, the less said about Celtic Park the better.

But for a campaign which is promising so little, for the sounds around Nedim Bajrami to be so positive it offers a slither of hope for Rangers fans increasingly devoid of it.

With nothing to lose, fans will hope Philippe Clement wastes no time introducing the playmaker as Tom Lawrence stutters and Todd Cantwell bolts for the exit.

Ianis Hagi is also persona non grata whilst Alex Lowry is so far out of the picture he may as well still be on loan propping up the bench at Hearts.

Rangers are a club in dire need of a boost. They’re also a club who – for a multitude of reasons – have scarce resources.

Whilst Gers fans might’ve not known who Nedim Bajrami was a few weeks ago, it’s an expensive outlay and with the signing comes renewed optimism.

If it it all goes to plan, Bajrami could be the salvation of Rangers’ stuttering early season form.

But the playmaker also has the power to spare the shared reputations of Philippe Clement, Nils Koppen and John Bennett amongst a frustrated Ibrox support.

They’ll all be hoping that we hear the Albanian’s name reverberating around Ibrox when the club finally returns in the coming weeks.

Philippe Clement has Rangers number six solution with ‘heck of a player’

Rangers fans will be hoping that their team can put behind the disappointing defeat at Parkhead with Philippe Clement also hoping to lift some of the pressure on his shoulders.

The manager cut a frustrated figure before and after the Old Firm derby with a squad that still has a couple of gaps despite the late additions of Neysharo Kasanwirjo and Nedim Bajrami.

Clement hinted at possibly looking to utilise the free agent market to sign a number six, however, the Gers boss should look to an academy prospect who needs to be thrown in at the depend.

Time for Rangers to give Bailey Rice his chance

Bailey Rice skippered the Scotland Under-19 side this week whilst his former Motherwell teammate Lennon Miller was with the Under-21s.

That Miller has seen calls for his name to be added to the senior squad shows just how far he has come under Stuart Kettlewell.

The Steelmen’s boss has put his faith in Miller and he has been rewarded handsomely.

He isn’t just one of the best young midfielders in the country, he is one of the best.

When Rangers signed Rice, he was the jewel of Motherwell’s academy, but two years later, only one of them has kicked on.

Barry Ferguson was thrown in at the deepend by Dick Advocaat when he had barely a handful of appearances for the first-team and he embraced the challenge.

There is no way of knowing if Rice is really capable unless he is given a similar opportunity.

Rice is a natural number six, something Philippe Clement doesn’t have in his squad.

What the managers have thought about Rice

Only last year, Michael Beale was predicting big things for the Rangers number 49:

“I’m telling you we have got a heck of a player in Bailey Rice. He is 16, he is not 17 until the end of the month.

“When I introduce him to this madhouse, and my protection of him is important, but I am telling you he is ready.”

Shortly after Clement took over, he was asked about Rice and his development with the young midfelder seemingly disappearing out of first team contention:

“I don’t like to speak too much about individuals but OK I will speak about Bailey (Rice) because he knows.

“He’s for me a really talented player and I think he has a great future in this club but there are also some points we need to work on which are different academy football and the first team, for sure without ball.

“So that’s a really important step to make and he’s going to make that step. If he makes that step then he’s going to be pushing for positions in the first team.”

Rice has been seen on the bench recently and in pre-season so, the young playmaker has maybe taken the advice on board that Clement has given him.

Soon to turn 18, the next few years are pivotal for Rice.

Rangers is unlike most clubs in that there is no easy path to the first team.

Players either thrive on the pressure or they wilt, technical ability rarely has anything to do with it.

Clement doesn’t have to start Rice evey week, but giving him time off the bench in a strong team would allow the manager to see how far away Rice really is from being the player we all hope he could be.

Academy trio duck under Nils Koppen’s swinging Rangers axe despite lack of opportunity

Rangers’ new director of recruitment Nils Koppen had a sizeable job on his hands at Ibrox this summer.

The Belgian transfer guru had only just got his feet under the desk inside the famous old stadium before he was cast into the January transfer market.

But it wasn’t until this summer that much of the work really begun as the axe swung within the Ibrox dressing room and Rangers sought to cut their inflated wage bill.

Come the end of the window, it’s clear Rangers are still short in a number of positions and the jury is very much out as to whether this season’s squad is as good as last season’s underachievers.

But whilst the judgement of Koppen’s window will be made in other departments, come its close the Belgian failed to move on three players for whom opportunity at Rangers seems to have passed.

Opportunity passes for Rangers academy trio

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been very clear that the club must hand more opportunities to their brightest academy talents.

And so far the Belgian has largely stayed true to that promise.

Ross McCausland continues to be a regular feature in the first-team squad, whilst Robbie Fraser and Cole McKinnon have been handed their opportunities by the ex-AS Monaco manager.

But there are three players propping up the Rangers squad who are so far out of the first-team picture it begs the question, why weren’t they moved on this summer?

Leon King is the stand-out name on the list.

The once highly-rated defender has failed to bounce back from that Champions League baptism of fire in 22/23 and has yet to feature under Philippe Clement this season.

League Two Salford City were linked to Leon King as the window prepared to close but a move never transpired and now the 20-year-old faces another season campaign up the club’s squad.

Then there’s the curious case of right-back talent Adam Devine, another who broke into the Rangers team a few years ago but was farmed out on loan to Motherwell in the first half of this year.

Returning in the summer, Devine has the likes of James Tavernier, Dujon Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo in front of him and minutes will be limited.

Finally, there is attacking midfielder Alex Lowry who burst onto the scene in January 2023 but since then has struggled to break back into the side.

Seeing a loan spell at Hearts cut short last season, injury has had a big role to play in Lowry’s stuttering development but he is yet to feature under Philippe Clement and finds himself turning out in the Rangers B team.

Rangers squad rebuild far from complete

Rangers have a number of young players threatening to break through into the Ibrox first-team.

Ross McCausland is already there, whilst Robbie Fraser is a favourite of Philippe Clement’s and Cole McKinnon & Zak Lovelace remain highly thought of at the club.

Midfielder Bailey Rice is another of whom big things are expected, with England youth international Archie Stevens also highly-rated.

But considering the competition and Clement’s track record of selections, it really remains to be seen how Leon King, Adam Devine and Alex Lowry fit into the jigsaw.

It then brings into question why Rangers have not found a suitable solution to the situation with all three players, especially given they will likely play little football for the first-team this season.

It’s yet further evidence that Rangers’ rebuild is only just in its infancy with Nils Koppen set to have his work cut out for the next few windows just yet.