Jason definitely has ability. He just needs someone to show him down the right path

SAYS KRIS COMMONS By BRIAN MARJORIBANKS

STRIPPED to his underpants and sporting a headband fashioned out of tape, the cult of Jason Cummings was about to reach a wider audience.

With ‘Cumdog’ scrawled across his chest in felt-tip pen, the striker ambushed wrestler and BBC comedy actor Grado in the Hibs training ground canteen in front of his team-mates and a laughing Neil Lennon.

The madcap clip that went viral on social media was merely the latest time the 22-year-old striker had lit up Scottish football with his dazzling ability and zany humour.

Bursting on to the scene in 2014 by scoring what he declared was a ‘zing’ in a Premiership play-off at Hamilton, Cummings claimed to a live television audience that his left foot could open a tin of beans.

He went on to have the word ‘zing’ tattooed on his trusty left foot and has Sandy from

Grease — his favourite movie — on his left arm.

After scoring a double in a 3-1 victory at Rangers, Cummings declared he had ‘the touch of an angel’.

That quip saw him labelled ‘Billy Big Time’ by Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths, another former Hibs forward with a capacity for spectacular goals matched by an ability to attract controversy.

Now, almost four years on from that rebuke, Griffiths and new Rangers loan signing Cummings are on course to meet in Scottish football’s big time when the Old Firm clash at Ibrox in March.

Kris Commons was a team-mate of Griffiths at Celtic and Cummings at Hibs. He suspects if the new Ibrox frontman — who wasted no time in seeking a rematch with Grado after sealing his move — gets a mentor who can point him in the right direction, he can follow his Celtic counterpart in grappling his way to the top.

‘I played with Jason at Hibs last season — he’s a funny guy who is up for anything,’ smiled the Sportsmail columnist, ahead of Cummings’ Scottish Cup debut in Fraserburgh on Sunday.

‘I wasn’t actually there the day he was wrestling in his pants, but I saw it on social media. He certainly lifts the mood of the dressing room. Because he’s not the brightest, he amuses everyone. You could be having a bit of a nightmare, but he lifts the place.

‘He has ability. He just needed guidance and that’s where I thought Neil Lennon was good with him at Hibs.

‘He’s a very effective goalscorer when he’s in the mood. It’s just about getting him in the right frame of mind and stopping him thinking he’s too good, because he gets that in his mind — he puffs his chest out and thinks he’s a bit of something.

‘Jason does things without thinking, but that’s probably the best thing about him. He doesn’t get too fazed by big games, which is why he’s always done well in them. But he is a bit up and down. He is like Leigh Griffiths eight or nine years ago, in that you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get from him.

‘It’s only because of the work Brendan Rodgers has done with Leigh that has propelled him to be No9 for Celtic and Scotland.

‘Jason just needs a bit of guidance on his best position, on his attributes and his weaknesses to make him a better player.

‘But the boy definitely has ability. He just needs to get the right direction, a bit of motivation maybe, or someone to show him down the right path.’

Cummings’ goals against Rangers saw Mark Warburton fork out £1million to take him down to Nottingham Forest, but he managed just one goal in the English Championship before Warburton was sacked. Commons hopes being closer to his native Edinburgh will help the Scotland international rediscover his best form.

‘I know the move has not gone down too well on social media with a few Hibs fans,’ he said. ‘But Jason’s trying to do the best by his own career and after one goal in 14 at Forest, something had to change.

‘He needed to get his season going again. Forest are 15th in the Championship and, as a striker, it’s hard to play well in a team who are struggling.

‘They didn’t seem to know where to play him to get the best out of him and it’s tough to build momentum as a striker when you’re not in your best position and the team is not making a lot of chances.

‘Being 300 miles away from home and not playing is tough. But, under Graeme Murty at Rangers, Jason will be around people he knows. He will not be far from Edinburgh and, hopefully, those home comforts will help him put more concentration into his game.’

The signing of Cummings is part of Murty’s vision of British recruits hired to play a fast-paced, aggressive style.

Norwich defender Russell Martin last night sealed a loan move to Ibrox, while Rangers have already signed attacker Jamie Murphy and midfielder Sean Goss on temporary deals.

Commons believes it is an approach that makes sense after the ruinous, short-lived reign of Pedro Caixinha.

‘It’s funny how Rangers are going back to the British-based players. The ones who know about the league, the rivalry with Celtic and the expectations of the club,’ said Commons.

‘Pedro signed all these foreigners and, from the figures I am hearing, the money they spent last summer was extortionate for three, four, five players. It was probably more than Celtic were paying, but Rangers are still way behind Celtic.

‘Alfredo Morelos has done all right, but I wouldn’t say he’s a natural goalscorer. Eduardo Herrera has recently looked as though he might be a player, but you can’t say Carlos Pena or Bruno Alves are worth the money they’re getting.

‘Rangers are in a battle for second place or third if they don’t get it right. Hence why they’re going for tried and trusted British players.

‘Russell Martin is a good rightback. He played centre-half for Scotland and I wasn’t convinced. I don’t think he’s a natural centre-half, but he’s a great guy and a good leader. He is just there because Alves can’t get though a game without picking up an injury.

‘I think he will be better than Alves, but I don’t think he’s the answer. I would rather play Ross McCrorie in there. He’s a good player.

‘Rangers are now in a transition period where they will be looking to stop ten-in-a-row. No question. Whether they win a cup between now and that happening, stopping ten is the big thing.’

Commons was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.

He sometimes sticks his chest out and thinks he’s too good