So, who steps up to lead line for Van Bronckhorst in Leipzig?
THURSDAY night’s first leg of the Europa League semi-finals will be one of the biggest games in Rangers’ recent history, but the Ibrox club do not have their troubles to seek going into the European clash.
The likes of Swedish central defender Filip Helander and Juventus loanee Aaron Ramsey will play no part in the tie and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side is looking a little short of options, particularly in the final third.
Talismanic forward Alfredo Morelos is out for the remainder of the season and won’t be there to lead the line as he has done so impressively over the last few years for Rangers. Kemar Roofe, the second-choice centreforward, is nursing an injury and won’t play in Germany and Cedric Itten, the only other recognised striker on the books at Ibrox, isn’t registered to play in Europe.
Here we run through the candidates to feature in attack in Germany and weigh up their chances of being given the nod on Thursday night.
Fashion Sakala
The Zambian forward has blown hot and cold this season and this inconsistency is a mark against the 25-year-old. Sakala has so far provided 10 goals and five assists in his debut campaign in Glasgow’s south side but given he has made 43 appearances in all competitions, he isn’t exactly enjoying an especially prolific campaign.
It’s noteworthy that all of Sakala’s goal contributions have arrived in domestic competitions. In 10 European outings this season he has failed to provide a single goal or assist and this makes selecting Sakala as an out-and-out striker tricky to justify.
Additionally, as Saturday’s win over Motherwell showed, the former KV Oostende forward is most effective when operating further out wide and cutting inside.
Scott Wright
Another who caught the eye on Saturday and strengthened his case for a starting spot in Leipzig. Like Sakala, Wright has found himself in and out of the first team this season and hasn’t always seized his opportunity when it has come along. But the former Aberdeen man will be in a confident mood following his display at the weekend.
Wright might not have been credited with Rangers’ opening goal against Motherwell but it was the winger’s desperate lunge at the ball that forced Liam Kelly into making an error that broke the deadlock. There was little doubt about the team’s second, though, as Wright combined well with Sakala to restore Rangers’ lead with a fine touch-and-hit that rifled into the bottom corner.
Wright’s direct dribbling style and agility mean he can find pockets of space in the final third but there are doubts over whether the forward has the physical presence to occupy two central defenders. He represents a useful option when counter-attacking but becomes less effective when Rangers’ build-up play is a little slower and more measured.
Ryan Kent
The English winger has often saved his best performances for the European stage and calls from fans for Kent to start as striker against Leipzig are perfectly understandable. With a goal and four assists in the Europa League this season and superb displays against the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Braga under his belt, the 25-yearold has plenty of pedigree.
There are two big issues with playing Kent as a centre-forward in Germany, however. The first is obvious: Kent has been arguably Rangers’ best player during their run to the semi-finals, and moving him out of position simply means that the team will be weakened elsewhere to accommodate the change.
The second is perhaps even more straightforward: Kent is not a reliable goal scorer and never has been. The former Liverpool winger has three goals in 40 appearances in all competitions this term.
Amad Diallo
The Manchester United loanee is another option available to Van Bronckhorst but it is one that it is difficult to envision the Rangers boss opting for. The 19-year-old has played in fits and starts since arriving during the January transfer window but the simple truth is that he hasn’t offered enough to be given such a prominent role in so important a game.
Joe Aribo
The final likely contender to fill in in Morelos and Roofe’s stead and perhaps the one with the strongest case of all, despite the fact that he is a natural midfielder. Van Bronckhorst and his predecessor Steven Gerrard both benefitted from the Nigeria internationalist’s versatility and Aribo looks equally at home playing in central midfield or on the wings.
Whether or not he can effectively lead the line in a European semi-final is an altogether different question but there is certainly a case to be made. Aribo’s physicality means he is unlikely to be bullied off the ball by opposition centre-backs and he also excels at using his frame to shield the ball.
It is Aribo’s ability to hold the play up and bring his team-mates into the game that could be most appealing to Van Bronckhorst. If the Rangers boss accepts that whoever he plays as striker is unlikely to score as it’s not their natural position, then the priority should be choosing a player who can provide an effective presence in the final third and help to create. In this sense, Aribo is the stand-out candidate.