Rangers need target man, says McSwegan

FORMER Rangers striker Gary McSwegan believes the Ibrox club could benefit from bringing in a target man to partner Alfredo Morelos up front as they bid to stop Celtic winning 10-In-A-Row.

And McSwegan believes that Sam Cosgrove, who scored 23 times for Aberdeen in the 2019/20 season, would be the ideal foil for Morelos in the forthcoming campaign.

“I wasn’t sure about Florian Kamberi when he first came in from Hibs, but think he did well for himself,” he said. “When Morelos had a dip in form they brought him in and he didn’t do himself any harm at all.

“But I still think Rangers need a different type, a bigger striker, up there as well. I look at Aberdeen and the problems that Sam Cosgrove caused for teams last season. He is the right size, gets into the right places and is effective. Rangers haven’t had that and I think he could have made a difference in some games.

“They certainly need somebody of that type who can allow them to change it. I mean a Mark Hateley type, somebody who can be physical in the box and pose a threat from crosses.

“I know this Rangers team like to play with the ball on the ground and their passing is good as well. But I think there is an awful lot of crosses which go into the opposition box from Borna Barisic and James Tavernier as well and a low percentage of them are converted. That would be a different situation if they had a big target man in there.”

McSwegan added: “It would be interesting seeing Morelos playing with a strike partner like that. I don’t know if he’s ever done that. I don’t know if Rangers will change their shape this year and go 5-3-2 like Celtic or 4-4-2. Who knows?

“It would relieve some of the pressure that is on Morelos as well. If he is up against two centre-backs then he is second favourite to win any ball that comes into the box. That is different if he has somebody there with him.”

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