Rangers manager Philippe Clement has hinted that Brazilian striker Danilo is in line to start against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.
The Belgian manager was speaking ahead of the trip to Dens Park as Rangers look to build on a last gasp turnaround against Hearts at Ibrox.
Summer signing Danilo scored the winner in a 2-1 victory and whilst Philippe Clement gave little away with regards a start v Dundee, a wry smile hinted that the striker is in line to make an appearance.
“That’s a good question, you’ll see tomorrow,” said Clement. “He’s ready to play, we will see what is important in this game.
“If it’s necessary if he starts, or if he comes in, it depends on the opponents also, what profiles you need and the physical state of the players.
“He’s not ready for 90 minutes that’s logical.”
Philippe Clement puts responsibility on Danilo ahead of Dundee
Excitement is mounting around Danilo at Rangers with the jury still firmly out on £8m attacking pair Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers at Ibrox.
Both players toiled against Hearts in Govan with Danilo viewed as a more potent option than both the Belgian-born Nigerian international and Dutchman.
Signed on a reported £5.6m deal from Feyenoord in the summer, Danilo also represents a substantial outlay and Rangers fans would love to see the masked striker from the start against Dundee.
Having seen the early part of his Rangers career impacted by a fractured cheekbone, there are hopes building that the Michael Beale signing can come good in Glasgow
Asked about how far Danilo can go at Ibrox, Philippe Clement claims that all depends on Danilo.
“I don’t believe in those things,” said Clement. “That you can say ‘he can grow to that level’ because there are players always that surprise you.
“Players that go beyond that level, there are also players who never reach that level.
“It’s our responsibility to give them all the tools to become the best players they can be in every sense; physically, technically, tactically, mentally.
“To work with them really hard every day to let them make progression and then it’s about players taking these tools also and using it.
“That’s what we’re going to do, it’s about players taking their own responsibility in that.
“But it’s a young player (Danilo) with potential to grow, that’s for sure.”
Ahead of the clash with Dundee, expect to hear Rangers fans bellowing out the Oasis song they’ve adopted for Danilo.
