Ryan will be flying before you know it
STEVEN GERRARD insists it will only take one spark for Rangers ace Ryan Kent to explode back to his brilliant best.
The former Liverpool ace is among a number of Ibrox stars struggling to hit the heights of last year’s title triumph.
But it was the 24-year-old who was hooked at half-time on Thursday night as Gers laboured to a 1-0 Europa League win over Alashkert.
The £7million man blew a golden chance midway through the first half at Ibrox when his shot clipped the bar while there were plenty of other examples of the playmaker running down dead ends.
But Gerrard insists his faith in the former Liverpool ace remains as strong as ever as he backed Kent to rediscover his top form.
He said: “It’s clear he’s not at his best level right now.
“But, as his manager and as a staff, we’ll give him the support he needs to try and get him back in the best place as quick as we can.
“Ryan has been absolutely phenomenal for me and the club since he has walked through the door.
“It’s very rare to see him when he’s not in top form but this is it, he is human, it happens.
“I had more dips in form than anyone out there, so I understand that. He needs myself, the staff and his team-mates to get round him. It’ll only take that one moment of brilliance or one big performance and he will be back in the place we need him.”
Gerrard has added former Huddersfield midfielder Juninho Bacuna to his squad but he’s unlikely to make his debut when Gers head to Dingwall to take on Ross County tomorrow.
But there is hope for absentees Ryan Jack, Fashion Sakala and Nnamdi Ofoborh – who has been ruled out with heart trouble – to return before long.
He said: “Ryan is progressing well, getting closer and closer but we need to be patient. He’s missed a lot of football but he is one that we are really looking forward to having back. “Ryan is a standard setter. “Nnamdi has further tests next week so we are hoping for some good news. Sakala has a bit of a niggle in his groin. He is paying for myself and the staff pushing him a little bit too quick, but we hope he’s not far away.”