Daniel Candeias’ value to Rangers is becoming more and more substantial as the weeks go on.
Take last Thursday night for example. Rewind back a year and think of whether you would be too fussed if the Portuguese winger was missing from action. Be it through injury or suspension, it was no serious disaster.
Yet, on Thursday night at Rapid Vienna, Candeias’ omission was a huge blow to Rangers and their last-32 ambitions. A lack of creativity in the final third led to the Gers crashing out of the Europa League in an unfortunate evening in Vienna.
So how fitting it was that it was Candeias who sent Rangers back to the top of the league once again against Hamilton. His winner this afternoon wasn’t just the occurrance of a relatively in-form player notching another goal. Instead, it was the club’s new MVP starring front and centre once again.
How many times this season has Candeias come up with the goods when Rangers have needed him most? Off the top of the head, you have this afternoon, his goal at St Mirren, and his opener against Livingston at Ibrox too. Not forgetting the fact that the winger is also now making his mark in Europe for the club after his goal at Spartak Moscow.
It doesn’t matter who Rangers play – Candeias gives his all
Against Accies this afternoon, he was at his usual energetic best. No matter who the opposition is, Rangers can always rely on Candeias to get stuck in. Be it Villarreal or Hamilton, you’ll get the same levels of energy from the Portuguese.
There’s not many in this squad or in recent years who you could say that for. Alfredo Morelos is perhaps another one, but nobody shows it more than Candeias.
His competition at Ibrox, Eros Grezda, has recently got firing with his first couple of goals for the club. That then proceeded with a slight dip in form that’s seen him struggle to get that mojo back again.
With Candeias in such blistering form, however, you have to wonder how anyone can displace him. Grezda, therefore, may have to hope his new partnership with Borna Barisic will keep him in the side.
Once again, he proved to be Rangers’ match-winner against Hamilton. Whilst he was at it, he also remained their MVP.
