If there is one positive that can be taken out of Rangers’ stunning Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Queen’s Park, it’s that the decision to bring in Lyall Cameron from Dundee suddenly makes a whole lot of sense.
While many have questioned the midfielder’s arrival – where would Lyall Cameron fit in, they wonder, alongside Nico Raskin, Mohamed Diomande and Connor Barron? – those au fait with the Scotland Under-21 international know that this is a deal which should add another string to Rangers’ bow.
None of the midfielders currently at Philippe Clement’s disposal make a habit of well-timed runs into the penalty area. The sort of runs Cameron has made his trademark at Dens Park.
His tally of eight goals across 2024/25 is more than that of Raskin, Diomande and Barron put together.
Clement highlighted Cameron’s ‘really good’ goal return when welcoming the 22-year-old to Ibrox last week as well. The prospect of a Lyall Cameron – Hamza Igamane partnership is particularly mouth-watering. Igamane’s penchant for dropping deep and drifting wide should, in theory, open up the sort of gaps Cameron loves to drive into.
And, while watching an insipid Rangers outfit stumble out of the Scottish Cup at home to second-tier opposition, Boyd could not shake the feeling that this was a team crying out for a footballer of Cameron’s box-crashing attributes.
Rangers’ Queen’s Park upset shows why they need Lyall Cameron
While he did not mention the new signing by name, the implication is clear.
On an afternoon in which Igamane was left with very little support and even less service – Kris Boyd slammed the ‘really poor’ Nedim Bajrami as the Albanian struggled to exert any sort of influence – how the Gers needed Cameron’s running power, goal threat and forcefulness in the final third.
“If it is a case if going long, then surely you have to have midfielders going up in support of the striker,” Boyd argues, Cameron exactly the kind of midfielder who relishes in doing just that.
“Rangers launch it long and then don’t get players in support of the striker. There’s no connection with any [of their teammates].”
Boyd feels that the individual quality at Clement’s disposal has actually papered over those tactical cracks in the early weeks of 2025. Take Cyriel Dessers’ ‘sensational’ finish against Manchester United. Or the rabbit-out-of-the-hat abilities of Vaclav Cerny and Ianis Hagi, for instance.
“Because there are some good players, things will happen. You think of Cyriel Dessers at Old Trafford, the touch out the air and finish. Great touch and finish. You think of some of the grate goals Rangers have scored,” Boyd adds.
“Sometimes you get it. But more often than not, there is no connection from the forward players. Youre hoping can Cerny check inside and do something? Yeah [he can].
“But there’s no connection between the midfielders and the strikers.”
Philippe Clement explains what Rangers like about Dundee ace
Clement will be hoping this is a problem Lyall Cameron can fix. Though whether the Belgian will still be around to see him do it – pressure is rising on the Rangers boss once again – only time will tell.
“I’m very happy. It’s part of our plans that we have with the club to develop young Scottish players or to get young Scottish players with potential,” Clement said of Cameron in his pre-match presser on Friday.
“He has the right mentality, he really wants to come to the club. We had enough talks with him that he understands what Rangers is. And, of course, Scottish players know it more.
“We’re looking for that kind of character; Not only good players but also players who can cope with what it is to be a Rangers player and to have the right mentality,” the Belgian explains. “Lyall showed that in the talks.
“[Signing more homegrown players] is a clear strategy from the club. It’s important that these young players get chances to develop at this level, and we want to try to help and to push with that.”
