Philippe Clement certainly isn’t without his critics in Scottish football but the Rangers manager has earned some unlikely praise from James McFadden.
Ex-Scotland and Motherwell forward McFadden knows a thing or two about being a creative and versatile forward and was speaking this week on the Warm Up.
Specifically, James McFadden was talking about the emergence of Hamza Igamane at Rangers.
The Moroccan striker has burst onto the scene and netted a perfect hat-trick in the 3-3 Scottish Premiership draw with Hibs.
James McFadden praises Philippe Clement
Asked about Philippe Clement’s management of Hamza Igamane, James McFadden reckons the Rangers manager has handled the striker’s situation perfectly.
Signed in the summer on a £1.7m deal from Moroccan club FAR Rabat, Philippe Clement has taken his time introducing Igamane to the Rangers first-team.
The former Everton hitman also reckons Rangers have every right to be excited about what the future holds with the Moroccan forward.
“I think it’s been the right thing to put him in at the right moment,” said McFadden.
”Because if he starts the season and he doesn’t score and he’s trying stuff and it isn’t coming off, people are going to say he shouldn’t be in the team.
”We need somebody who is going to get in between the sticks and going to score goals.
”So I think it’s worked well for him because the situation with Dessers, (where there was) a lot of criticism.
”He definitely is the first choice, he’s got to be, because of the goalscoring form that he’s shown and his all round play.
”There’s going to be a dip, he’s a young player, there’s going to be games where he’s not as effective.”
Rangers ‘right to be excited’ about Hamza Igamane
Rangers fans certainly have a new hero in the shape of Hamza Igamane with the 22-year-old finding his feet in Glasgow.
In the last few weeks the Ibrox hitman’s form has begun to turn heads with Igamane reportedly being watched in the Premier League.
There have even been reports of Igamane being called up to the Morocco squad whilst Rangers have been urged not to accept less than £12m for the forward.
| Hamza Igamane | Stats |
| Appearances (starts) | 22 (12) |
| Goals | 11 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Scottish Premiership goals (xG) | 7 (5.06) |
| FotMob season rating | 6.99 |
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has also been waxing lyrical about Hamza Igamane and reckons the Ibrox side will be braced for transfer interest.
James McFadden has been talking about the buzz surrounding Hamza Igamane and reckons the Rangers support are absolutely within their rights to get excited.
“Absolutely,” said McFadden when asked if Rangers fans are right to get excited about Igamane.
”They’re right to be excited because when he came, it was quite mysterious.
”Rangers have signed this player because the manager has come out and said if they don’t sign him then they’ll never be able to sign him.
”Then you get to see a wee bit of him and then you’re thinking, he’s got something about him.
”You’re looking and saying he’s got great touches, you can see he’s got a bit of physicality, but where is he going to play?
”He’s really found found the position of being the number nine, scoring goals.
”He had the chance to make it four (v Hibs) and you’re being critical in saying he should score, but he had four chances and scored three goals.
”The more he’s played the better he’s got.
”You weren’t sure if he was going to be that player who plays off the striker or if he’s going to play off one of the sides because of the type of player he is.
”His movement, his decision-making to hold his position and ultimately his finishing (is impressive).”
