If you’re going to make it as a Rangers number nine then it’s imperative that you do the business against Celtic on Old Firm derby day.
As the scrutiny intensifies on Cyriel Dessers, the true test of the Nigerian international’s Ibrox credentials will come in clashes against the Gers’ eternal Glasgow rivals.
But as Rangers reflect on the shortcomings of the club’s misfiring frontline, there is one long-term Ibrox-linked striker who’s just proved he has the mettle on derby day.
It might also have a few at Rangers wondering if the club should’ve plunged given the 24-year-old’s pre-contract availability in the summer transfer window.
Tyrese Campbell the Steel City derby hero
Rangers have been linked with a move for ex-Manchester City youth Tyrese Campbell throughout his young career.
The ex-Stoke City striker was strongly linked with a move to Rangers under Steven Gerrard in 2020 but opted to sign a new deal at the Britannia.
This summer those Rangers links to Tyrese Campbell were resurrected when the hitman’s contract at the Potters expired and he hunted for a new club.
But as things transpired, Campbell wound up moving to Sheffield United instead and swapped the potential of an Old Firm derby with the Steel City derby instead.
And it’s in that famous old game in Sheffield that Tyrese Campbell has just made himself a hero with the Blades.
Netting the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane, Rangers fans don’t have to tell you that doing the same against Celtic would’ve instantly crowned Campbell a hero in Glasgow.
As it transpires, it’s likely the hitman won’t have to buy himself a pint in the red and white side of the Steel City for the next few months at least.
Celtic fan teammate ‘turned striker off Rangers’
Michael O’Neill has previously been open about Rangers’ attempts to sign Tyrese Campbell back in the January of 2020 under Steven Gerrard.
The ex-Stoke City boss claims that Rangers had ‘high hopes’ of signing Campbell before he intervened and convinced him to sign on at the Britannia.
But quite remarkably, the ex-Stoke City striker wound up claiming that he turned down the Gers in no small part due to the advice of controversial teammate and Celtic fan James McLean.
The Republic of Ireland international doesn’t exactly hold Rangers in high esteem – and saying that the feeling is mutual is an understatement – and did his bit to turn Campbell off a move to Ibrox.
In an Instagram post in 2020, McLean claimed that he ‘convinced’ Campbell to turn down a move to Rangers in an attempt at winding up Gers fans (Glasgow Times).
Tyrese Campbell then responded by claiming that ‘a few words’ from McLean was ‘all it took’ to decided against a switch to Ibrox.
It lead to some controversy around them reignited links to Rangers in the summer with the decision not to move for Tyrese Campbell probably for the best!
