Rangers are short of pace, creativity and players who can make a difference with Philippe Clement hoping that he can find the answers.
The manager doesn’t have a lot of options, however, his eyes will have been opened in the most unlikely of places with what he saw at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling.
The Rangers B team took on Stenhousemuir in the SPFL Trust Trophy, fielding a strong line-up featuring Danilo and Ianis Hagi but it was one academy hopeful who really caught the eye.
Zak Lovelace nears Rangers return after injury caused career fears
Given the forward line’s need for pace, especially in wide areas, it isn’t a surprise to see Zak Lovelace being considered by Clement for the senior Rangers squad.
The Rangers boss intervened at half-time at Forthbank and decided that he had seen enough from the flying winger to suggest that he could be a difference maker in the coming weeks.
The Belgian has rarely been able to see what the former Millwall prodigy is capable of after Lovelace tore his hamstring on his Rangers debut against St Mirren and suffered a setback earlier this year just as he was returning to match fitness.
It looked like Rangers had a ready-made Rabbi Matondo replacement.
It was an injury that saw Lovelace fear for his future. In an interview with Rangers TV last year, the England youth cap said:
“I was in a dark space for the first three weeks. I thought, listen, I’m finished if this doesn’t go right.
“But I came back in training and there was a week it felt a bit tight, but fortunately I’m back to where I am now.
“When I started sprinting, I hit a couple of good speeds. I knew then that I would be back soon and I was so excited.
“I’ve been speaking to the assistant coaches, Alex Rae and Brian Gilmour, quite regularly and they have been giving me motivation, telling me that I need to leave my print when I come round to train with the first-team.
“The fans have been excellent and they’ve been messaging me with support. They’ve been telling me to keep my head up and that I’ll be back. They’ve kept my spirits high and I love it.”
Who is in danger if Lovelace is given Rangers chance?
Lovelace arrived with a reputation as a central striker, however, he has been deployed for Rangers youth teams mainly off either wing.
Against Stenhousemuir – when he set up Rangers’ opener – the 18-year old started on the left and used his pace to devastating effect, a position that is up for grabs.
With no Rabbi Matondo, Oscar Cortes and Ross McCausland only half-fit, the Rangers boss will have to put a square peg in a round hole for the visit of FCSB to Ibrox.
Vaclav Cerny is nailed on to start on the right. The one who should be looking over their shoulder, is McCausland.
The Northern Ireland international was never tipped to be the next talent to breakthrough but was presented an opportunity due to an injury crisis in his position.
Hard work and a willingness to improve has seen him keep his place, however, the more maverick Lovelace is quicker and is better with the ball at his feet, as a natural striker, he also knows where the goal is.
Something Clement witnessed first hand at Forthbank.
