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Hamza Igamane ‘doesn’t look athletic’ as BBC pundit picks out one-word Rangers striker compliment

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Nils Koppen has been at Rangers for less than 18-months and is already learning how little room for manoeuvre he has in his role as technical director.

Every signing he makes will be questioned, they will also probably be written off in their first appearance in the Rangers squad

It was a fate that Hamza Igamane had to endure after signing from AS FAR for £1.7m

He arrived short of fitness and had to adapt to a higher intensity of football too, Philippe Clement proven right in holding back the young striker.

Once he was given a run in his preferred role, he lit up the Rangers attack with BBC pundit Steven Thompson singing his praises on the Scottish Football Podcast

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Hamza Igamane branded a ‘throwback’ by ex-Rangers striker

The calls for Igamane to start in a central position ahead of Cyriel Dessers are no surprise given the difference between the two strikers. 

It also doesn’t help that Dessers has scored one goal from his last 15 chances.

Against Aberdeen, Igamane barely got a sniff of goal, not that it stopped him getting on the scoresheet with one particular 10 second phase of play showing why Igamane is better than Dessers

Speaking after the dramatic 2-2 draw, Thompson picked out Igamane for praise:

“It also struck me that Hamza Igamane, he does a good job for Rangers.

“He looks a very old fashioned player. I don’t think it’s just because he wears black boots. 

“Somehow, looks like a bit old fashioned, a bit of a throwback to me.

“But he doesn’t look athletic, Richard.” 

“But he did so well, didn’t he, for that first goal?” Replied host Richard Gordon.

“I know, but he kind of ambles about the park, likes a nutmeg as well, doesn’t he? Likes to control the ball. He is a very good player and maybe he looks like a throwback to the old-fashioned type of skillful player.

“But I think it’s how he looks and his demeanour as well. There’s no doubt he’s got the quality and ability.”

What former Rangers striker does Igamane play like?

Thompson is right. Igamane looks and plays like no Rangers striker has for some time.

He is the perfect prototype for a number nine that is needed to play dominant domestic football but also lead the line in isolation in Europe.

Dare I say it. There is a touch of the Michael Mols about Igamane.

Illusive, quick footed, deadly.

Mols was cut down in his prime after a blistering start to his Rangers career, but he had already made a lasting impression.

He tore SPFL defences apart at the weekend with his trademark turn – Igamane does something similar with his collection of nutmegs – and would then hold the ball up and link play against the best of Europe in mid-week.

Igamane can be that talisman, but only if he isn’t watching Dessers from the bench or having to do shuttles to help out in defence too.