Philippe Clement must contemplate dropping Cyriel Dessers from the starting XI as Rangers prepare to face Kilmarnock on Sunday (5 May).
The forward notched the winner against St Mirren on Sunday 28 April, heading home in the 74th minute to mark his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
Despite netting the winning goal, Dessers’ performance left a lot to be desired, which follows a common trend this season, with many asking for a huge improvement from the striker.
Taking to X during the clash with St Mirren on Sunday (28 April), Joshua Barrie wrote: “Rangers really need a striker who can get them up the pitch in a game like this – whether holding the ball up or running behind. Dessers has been really ineffective.”
Cyriel Dessers could be dropped ahead of Rangers v Kilmarnock
Dessers has faced Kilmarnock on three occasions since making the £4.3million switch to Ibrox last summer, as per Fabrizio Romano, and has yet to net against them.
Considering the Gers’ situation at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, attempting to overhaul Celtic for the title, Clement may regret his decision if he does remove his striker from the lineup.
While the 29-year-old has reached 20 goals in all competitions for the season, Barrie is certainly correct in his statement that Rangers are in need of a striker who is much more comfortable with the ball at his feet.
With just 29 touches at The SMISA Stadium on Sunday, Dessers won 44 per cent of his ground duels (4/9) and 0 per cent of his aerial duels (0/2), which suggests the Gers could do with someone who is going to hold the ball up better.
Clement’s side certainly could have slipped up once again, with Mikael Mandron scoring an equaliser in the first half. And though Dessers did save his side from slipping further behind Celtic, his all-round display cannot be ignored.
