Cyriel Dessers is no Rangers hider as Kenny Miller spots glowing sign he CAN be Ibrox success
The Ibrox hitman has split opinion since arriving at the club six months ago as part of Michael Beale's summer recruitment drive.
Cyriel Dessers isn’t hiding as Philippe Clement searches for the striking formula at Rangers.
Kenny Miller says the Nigeria international is due major credit for that. And the former Ibrox hitman reckons it will be an ability to keep putting his hand up and bouncing back from setbacks that will define Dessers’ Light Blues career.
The 29-year-old has split opinion since arriving six months ago. Signed by Michael Beale, he scored just three times in 15 games before the Londoner was shown the door. Clement has doubled Dessers’ output in the same number of games. A Europa League cracker away to Real Betis features among the frontman’s half a dozen under the Belgian boss. However, sections of the support still remain unconvinced, his failure to take a glaring chance in the loss to Celtic before New Year giving Dessers’ critics bags more ammunition.
A fellow summer signing in Sam Lammers has left but Fabio Silva has checked in as Clement reshapes his offensive unit. Although links to Belgian Michy Batshuayi will not result in any move, the boss has plenty of time in the market to add striking recruits. Right now, Dessers has the jersey and Miller is adamant getting up off the canvas after blows like the fluffed Parkhead chance are key going forward.
The 44-year-old said: “He missed a chance. That’s it. But it is unfortunate it was in a big game Rangers didn’t win.
“I can recall misses that I still think about now, even though they were 10 years ago. He would be looking back on that – until the next one comes around and you put it to rest. That’s it.
“You can’t afford to hide, you need to keep putting yourself out there and, to be fair to him, he’s done that. With the way he took that goal in Seville, a lot of people thought, ‘Right, maybe there is something in here’.
“I don’t think the fans were on him as much going into the Old Firm game but when you don’t take these big chances, you don’t get the result, there is always going to be scrutiny. It never set me back, it didn’t bother me, you have to keep going and going until the next one. Everyone is different. How he responds to it, we’ll see.
“Listen, he has had a tough run. He is only six months into his Rangers career, so it’s still early. You were hoping that goal in Seville would have turned the corner for him and it isn’t to say he can’t do that.
“He has to keep at it and that’s one thing he has done. He has put the head down. He’s been there and he has had to be, with no one else to play up front at the moment.
“He has had to carry the can for that, whether he has been good, bad or indifferent. You have to give him credit for that. There has been lots of talk about him but he is always there to be shot at and takes the stick.
“You are hoping it turns and if it doesn’t, there is a transfer window we are in now and the manager has already signed another striker. That brings competition and that is what big clubs need.”
While Dessers has yet to convince everyone, attacker Ross McCausland has shone since the 20-year-old was given a chance by interim boss Steven Davis three months and then Clement.
Miller added: “He’s been great. He deserves to be playing and, in my opinion, is the best option at the club in that area. It is great as everybody likes to see young players coming in. Can you rely on him moving forward to go and win leagues and things?
"Time will tell. But I don’t think he’s had a bad game since he has come in. It will be interesting to see over the January period, if there is another player signed for in there, how it will affect him. Will it push him on? How does he respond?
“These are all challenges that younger players have to overcome because at some point he will come out of the team. It is about whether he comes back stronger. But at this moment in time, he has that jersey and someone has to take it off him.”
Miller believes Clement is in a strong position and says Rangers have a real shot at taking Celtic’s title.
He added: “It is there to be won, for either team. When Clement came in, there was a lot of work to be done and any kind of hurdles he has had to overcome or boxes to be ticked, he’s done that.
“He has done fantastic. The best thing I could say is he seems to have created a better feel around the place. There is definitely a better feel within the stadium and among the fans.
“The players look as if they have a bit more belief and a bit more confidence – and that is what a manager’s job is. Don’t under-estimate it. For me, coming in with the group and what they had been showing up until that moment, the first two or three months could be his toughest.
“But he has come through it, sailed through it. He’s done it with a smile on his face. He’s done it with standards, with demands, saying the right things, not getting complacent and being hungry for more success – as he said after the League Cup Final.
"He’s done everything he needed to do and it will be an interesting January to see where he goes from there.”