Cammy Bell says he knows how Rangers fans are feeling about Cyriel Dessers right now despite his brilliant form.
The Nigerian came under fire from pundits and supporters across the country earlier in the season after being signed in the summer for £4.5m from Cremonese.
Dessers was failing to convince the Ibrox faithful and was far too wasteful in front of goal. But he is a man transformed under Philippe Clement who is managing to squeeze the best out of him.
The 29-year-old has been a big factor in Rangers’ imperious form since the Old Firm defeat before the winter break.
As per Soccerbase, Dessers has scored five goals in seven games so far this year to go alongside the Light Blues’ 100% winning record in 2024.
He is turning heads in Govan but former Rangers goalkeeper Cammy Bell believes Rangers fans still feel that he’s perhaps not quite the long-term striker solution required at the club.
And it’s down to the number of huge chances Dessers continues to waste, even though the big man is scoring more regularly for the team including a brace in the midweek win over Ross County.
In the Scottish Premiership this season, Cyriel Dessers has missed more big chances than anyone else – 17 to be precise.
Cammy Bell on Cyriel Dessers
Cammy Bell told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: “Listen, he is a far better player than he was three or four months ago. I think the manager has got him confident but I also think the manager has got him playing to his strengths.
“He’s scoring goals and that’s what Rangers fans want their No9 to do. I just think he’s maybe not the No9 all Rangers fans look at and think ‘he’s definitely not the finished article’.
“He takes a number of opportunities to score them goals and that is probably the problem and frustration from the Rangers fans.
“Over previous years, they’ve had strikers up there where if they get four chances, three are hitting the back of the net. Whereas Dessers is sort of taking six or seven good chances to get his two goals.
“But listen, he’s an improved player and is playing with confidence and is an important player for Rangers going forward. He can absolutely have a big part to play in what they get out of this season.”
