When Glasgow Rangers hosts Aris Limassol at Ibrox this evening in their Europa League match, they will be looking to get back to winning ways.
The important thing was that no ground was lost in the Premiership title race, even though Philippe Clement’s team lost some momentum after a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen over the weekend.
A victory over the Cypriot team will guarantee the Gers’ passage to the knockout stages, even though they are currently ranked second in the group behind Real Betis.
If the Light Blues win all three points, it will be the fourth time in the last six seasons that they will play European football after Christmas. They could even repeat their incredible feat from 2022, when they made it to the Europa League final. Despite the club’s recent success, Clement will be taking each game as it comes and won’t jump too far ahead.
Keeping his starting lineup fresh will be a top priority for the Belgian, and with the fixtures coming up quickly over the next few weeks, there may be a few changes to the starting lineup this evening.
Even though the Light Blues dominated the Dons over the weekend, they were unable to take chances, and this will need to be addressed in advance of some challenging matches.
In light of this, is it possible for Clement to switch Todd Cantwell from a wide right position to a more advanced central role?
The numbers from Todd Cantwell’s matchup with Aberdeen
The Englishman had a decent game against the Dons, seeing the ball frequently, completing five crucial passes, and succeeding 100% of the time when dribbling. These are good statistics, but when he is played out wide, his effectiveness in front of goal suffers.
Although Cantwell’s versatility is a major asset, it’s time Clement put him in a position where he can cause havoc without allowing him to take a single shot during the weekend. He also lost possession twelve times.
Cantwell scored four goals and grabbed four assists from an attacking midfield slot when he joined the Gers from Norwich City in January. He only scored twice from a wide position, indicating that his best scoring and chance-creating position is behind the striker.
Numbers from Todd Cantwell’s season
The 25-year-old has only scored one goal in all competitions this season, so he hasn’t exactly been off to a fast start.
His progress has been hampered by missing five games following a knee injury he sustained during the 1-0 loss to Celtic in September.
The midfielder hasn’t been playing at his best, as evidenced by his lowly 13th place ranking in the Premiership for goals and assists (one). He also ranks eighth for shots on target per game (0.4), fifth for key passes per game (1.3), and eighth for successful dribbles per game (0.8).
While it’s true that the former Norwich gem has been forced to play on the wing multiple times this season, he needs to start putting in more effort under Clement.
If Cantwell doesn’t put up strong performances in the near future, players like Tom Lawrence and Sam Lammers are lining up to take over that attacking midfield position. The matchup with Aris provides Cantwell with the ideal opportunity to regain confidence in his game.
If Cantwell moved, there would be a void on the right wing, so the Belgian would need to keep using Ross McCausland’s skills, who has been a breath of fresh air these past few weeks.
The stats for Ross McCausland’s season
The youthful winger has signed a long-term contract with Ibrox thanks to the former Club Brugge manager, and this may be the best business the Belgian does in the upcoming days and weeks.
Despite not having scored a goal or provided an assist in his eight senior team appearances so far this season, the Northern Irishman’s speed and skill with the ball have been impressive to watch.
Before the international break, Clement gave him his first start against Livingston, and he looked very athletic out wide. The 20-year-old even had the ball in the back of the net during the first half after winning a penalty, but it
Putting on a Rangers jersey doesn’t seem to phase him, and this courage may serve him well.
A few weeks ago, against Sparta Prague, the young player came off the bench and had a fantastic impact. In addition to making all of his dribble attempts, he finished his 21-minute cameo with two shots, one crucial pass, and just one turnover of the ball. It is difficult to come off the bench with little time remaining in these kinds of games and create some opportunities, but the winger did just that, and reporter Josh Bunting praised his performance, saying:
“Since joining the team, Ross McCausland has performed admirably and shown positivity. His passing vision and sense are excellent for a player of his age. In all honesty, I don’t think he’s far from getting started because he adds a fresh perspective and energy to this Rangers team.
The six-foot-tall powerhouse undoubtedly possesses the necessary skills to be successful at the Light Blues, and his performances for the first team this year should only boost his self-assurance that he can keep moving closer to a starting XI spot.
There’s no better game to be involved in after Christmas than the one against Aris, where a win guarantees passage to the knockout stages and European football. Cantwell’s move to the middle creates a space for the Northern Irishman on the right wing.
McCausland is living the dream thanks to the signing of a new contract and the opportunity to make a name for himself under Clement.
