Rangers legend Kris Boyd wants to see Danilo get more minutes under Philippe Clement after the striker came within a lick of paint of a late winner during the 0-0 UEFA Europa League draw at Sparta Prague.
As Rangers pushed to break the stalemate during the final exchanges in the Czech Republic, substitute Danilo posed more of a threat to the Sparta backline in just 16 minutes than Cyriel Dessers managed in the previous 74.
After producing his finest, sharpest Rangers display during the 4-0 hammering of Hibernian over the weekend, this was a throwback to the dark deals of Mick Beale for Dessers. Ineffective and barely-involved in attack.
And Boyd feels that another disappointing Dessers display, coupled with Danilo’s lively cameo off the bench, should have Clement desperate to build up the former Ajax striker’s fitness as he looks to settle on a first-choice frontline.
Danilo shines and Dessers struggles
“You felt that, if the game went on, Rangers were the team that was going to nick it. But I’m sure they will be delighted to go back home with a point,” Boyd tells Sky Sports.
“They will be hoping (injured left-back Borna) Barisic is back (for the return fixture) because he gives them so much, and it allows Abdallah Sima to be in the forward position as well.
“The plus point was Danilo coming on. He did look sharp. And Rangers will need to get minutes into his legs because, (Sam) Lammers and Dessers, it’s not working for those two.”
Danilo has played just 25 minutes of football since fracturing a cheekbone while scoring a thumping header against St Johnstone in mid-September. A first start in over a month could be on the cards at home to Hearts this weekend, however, with Clement full of praise for Danilo’s ‘killer’ potential and his performances on the training pitch.
Philippe Clement has big hopes for £5m Rangers striker
“I saw him at Ajax and Feyenoord. He has killer capacities in the box. He’s a goalscorer,” Clement tells Rangers Review.
“I want to make him a striker who works hard, not only thinking about scoring goals. He has the individual (qualities) to make a difference. That’s what we expect not only to score goals but also to do a job for the team.
“He’s shown bright things the last couple of days. That’s why he got minutes.”
