When Tom Lawrence sat down on the Tynecastle turf with nobody near him, you just knew that he had suffered another setback, ironically, his replacement Jose Cifuentes was one of Rangers best players.
The Ecuador international has struggled to settle since signing from Los Angeles FC but, against Hearts, Philippe Clement finally saw something that suggests there could be a player there after all.
Jose Cifuentes might not be as flashy as Todd Cantwell or as elegant on the ball as Lawrence but, alongside John Lundstram, he showed that he is more than willing to roll his sleeves up for Rangers but, after taking one step forward, he has just taken two back.
Jose Cifuentes finally shows Rangers fans what he can do
Modern football fans can be bad for forming an opinion on a player and refusing to back down or change their mind.
Even if said player does turn into be a good signing, every mistake will always be met with a – “See, I told you he was rubbish.”
Or more colourful words to that effect.
Think James Tavernier and you get the picture.
What didn’t help Jose Cifuentes was how much Michael Beale eulogised over him before his visa had been stamped and he was paraded as a Rangers player.
Already, there was a level of expectation that was unrealistic.
What Philippe Clement, in his short time as Gers boss, seems to be good at, is simplifying instructions for players and it would appears as if Cifuentes has benefited from this.
Against Hearts, the 24-year old made more pressures, counter pressures and tackles/interceptions than any other player despite not even starting the game.
What this means in layman’s terms is that whenever Rangers didn’t have the ball, Jose Cifuentes was winning it back or at least making it difficult for his opposite number to maintain possession.
However……
Against Dundee, with a 3-1 advantage, he unnecessarily tried to retrieve a loose ball deep in their half and saw red via a VAR intervention.
Just when it was all going so well.
It had looked as though Cifuentes might struggle with the physicality of the Scottish game, however, by keeping things simple, he had adapted and started to look comfortable in a Rangers shirt.
The chance to nail down his place as John Lundstram’s partner in midfield was his by default but one silly lapse could cost him.
With Ryan Jack, Nicolas Raskin and Tom Lawrence all out of the squad injured, and Kieran Dowell unfancied, he has given the manager a real headache and there are no guarantees that he will get his spot back in the starting XI.
Jose Cifuentes is now out for two games after Rangers appeal failed, the player once compared to Paul Pogba finds himself suffering a similar fate – sitting in the stands.
