Philippe Clement will be hoping to have a few more bodies back in the coming weeks so that he doesn’t have to dig too deep to rotate his Rangers line up.
The manager made a few changes for the visit to Ibrox of Hibernian, however, a lack of time on the training pitch and in the recovery suite saw, arguably, the worst performance of the season.
There were a few players who weren’t quite 100% and when new signing Nedim Bajrami was missing from Rangers starting XI, there were more than a few groans from the support.
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Philippe Clement explains Rangers absence of Nedim Bajrami
Speaking before kick-off to Rangers TV, Clement explained his selection and why rotation was his only option:
“It is a really short time since the Malmo game and Dio got a knock there, so he’s not available for today. We hope to get him back for Thursday without guarantees yet.
“So that was already one change. Cyriel is playing a lot of minutes, Hamza is doing well in training, so there was a good moment to start him and give him this experience for a young striker. I think it’s good to have it at Ibrox in our own home, and Cyriel is ready to come in when Hamza gets tired.
“Bajrami felt a little bit his hamstrings at the end of the (Malmo) game. We don’t know his body really well yet because he is just in the building. Same with Nana so we need to discover that.
“We need to watch out if they give signals like that. My performance staff said it was a big risk to start with him, so we don’t do that. We need to look a little bit longer term also.
“Jefte is coming back after his suspension.”
The other question about Nedim Bajrami since joining Rangers has been about where he has been deployed.
The £3.4m deadline day signing seemed set to be Rangers number 10 answer, however, things haven’t quite worked out like that with Tom Lawrence keeping the jersey, for now.
With three goals in his last three league starts, there is a sound argument in the Welshman’s favour especially when you consider two of these goals were enough to win games against Dundee United and Hibs.
Should Clement change his mind on Bajrami?
The other side of the argument about Clement’s decision to play Bajrami on the left, is the Albania international’s form.
Starting with the most recent performance, Bajrami made 20 out of 21 passes against Hibs and created one big chance.
An inch perfect cross that Cyriel Dessers really should have done better with.
Against Malmo, Bajrami was the best player on the pitch according to Sofascore.
Not only did he score, but he should have had a hat-trick of assists too.
With four big chances created at an xG (expected goals) rate of over 0.5, Dessers again was culpable.
In the Premier Sports Cup vs Dundee, Bajrami was creator-in-chief again, having a hand in two of Rangers goals.
On paper, the 25-year old playmaker has only got one goal and one assist, but his numbers should be so much more impressive already – if his teammates were more clinical.
Put it another way, he is creating more chances than any other Rangers player.
So why move him?
The number 10 is scoring goals and the left winger is creating chances, all Clement has to do now is sort out the other side and the form of Vaclav Cerny.
