As Rangers slipped up once again away from home on Thursday night, most of the outstanding performers during that 1-1 draw at Dundee were wearing the white shirt of Tony Docherty’s hosts.
The under-fire Philippe Clement did have a few complementary words for Clinton Nsiala, the summer signing from AC Milan standing out head and shoulders above his more experienced teammates during a largely insipid display at Dens Park.
But, even without star midfielder Lyall Cameron, Dundee, almost to a man, outshone their vaunted visitors.
None more so than Josh Mulligan; a typically tireless display from the rampaging right-sider.
It was Mulligan who assisted Oluwaseun Adewumi’s sixth minute opener. The Dundee number eight reacted sharply to keep the ball in play before picking out Adewumi with an inch-perfect cross, leaving Rangers’ back-up ‘keeper Liam Kelly sprawling in goal.
That was his fourth assist in the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season. Only five players have more at this stage of the campaign.
Josh Mulligan shows why Rangers have been urged to sign him from Dundee
“There were a lot of fantastic performances for Dundee,” Thomas Duncan writes for BBC Sport “Mulligan’s running power was so effective on the break for Dundee as well, and he reacted quickest in the box to pounce on Scott Tiffoney’s deflected strike and cross for Adewumi’s goal.
“With 10 players out injured – including star man Lyall Cameron – this was an impressive result and performance from Tony Docherty’s side.”
Now, during the pre-match build up, some had labelled this an audition for the Dundee duo. Rangers were urged to sign both Lyall Cameron and Josh Mulligan earlier in the week by former Ibrox stalwart Andy Halliday, and it appears there is some truth to the claims that the former could end up on the blue side of Glasgow.
Technical director Nils Koppen insists that Rangers will always look to sign the best homegrown talents around. A category Cameron, who’s Dundee contract expires over the summer, certainly fits into.
Philippe Clement could hardly have been more complementary about Cameron either, albeit before he was ruled out of Thursday’s clash through injury.
“Lyle Cameron, a very good midfielder,” Clement said. “A creative midfielder with decisive action in the last pass and a good solid base behind him also.”
Andy Halliday explains why Rangers must raid Dundee this summer
As for Mulligan, reports of Rangers’ interest in the former Peterhead ace are yet to emerge.
Though this is certainly a deal that would make a lot of sense. Affordable given that he too will be a free-agent in the summer, possessing the versatility Clement looks for, and at 22, Mulligan could very conceivably be transformed into something of a long-term James Tavernier replacement.
He certainly possesses the athleticism – not to mention the technical qualities – to thrive as an attack-minded, right-sided full-back at one of the Premiership’s big-hitters, as he proved when assisting Adewumi almost straight after kick-off.
And even if Mulligan would only be a squad player at Rangers, rather than a guaranteed starter, there is certainly something to be said for the benefit of adding depth to your ranks. It hasn’t done runaway leaders Celtic – boosted by the addition of former Dundee talisman Liam McCowan – any harm.
“[Rangers] just need to prepare a squad, whether it’s depth, quality, line up players for the summer and try to do as much business as they can,” Halliday argues. “Two players I would sign right now; Lyall Cameron and Josh Mulligan. Honestly, I would sign the two of them.
“Mulligan is an athletic monster, I am signing him. I am signing the two of them on pre-contracts,” adds Halliday, who has come up against the Dundee pair this season with Motherwell.
“[Koppen] mentioned homegrown talent. See your Mulligans and Lyall Camerons, I’m not saying signing them is going to win Rangers the league. But see what [Luke] McCowan is doing for Celtic, get them two boys for proper squad depth, they will play games and do well for you.”
