Wright could solve Kent conundrum for Gerrard
THE hamstring injury sustained by Ryan Kent is just the latest obstacle to be thrown in Steven Gerrard’s path. There have been Covid issues and injuries to key players — already we have seen Rangers’ squad stretched far more than in the whole of last season.
The Old Firm’s financial clout allows them to have these big squads and it’s up to the guys on the fringes to come in and show they are capable.
Kent is a mainstay of the team, a source of inspiration not only when Rangers are cruising games but when they need someone to create that special moment that makes the difference.
He has not quite been hitting the heights of previous seasons but he has set a high bar. And I still feel that the opposition have that regard for him when he gets the ball.
They know he can score off both feet, he can create chances. To see him pull up against Lyon in midweek was a blow but all managers have to deal with losing players over the course of a season.
And that’s where I feel Scott Wright could now come in very handy. It was a huge blow to lose him from our Aberdeen squad back in January. I never saw the sense in selling him because it really impacted on what we were trying to do at the time.
For the fee that was agreed, I could see the sense for Rangers and for Scott. But not for
Aberdeen. He was worth more to try and help us finish third and win the Scottish Cup.
I think Rangers and Scott benefited from getting the deal done early and having him on board for that period of integration.
He played a small part in helping them win the title. But he also had time to get a house, become settled and he is now reaping the benefits.
Two years ago, we had big plans for Scott at Pittodrie. He had served his apprenticeship and we were keen to see him become established. Young players have ups and downs and there is inconsistency, but we always felt Scott had the potential.
We resisted one or two bids to take him on loan because we wanted to keep him with us and training full-time, and we also felt he could be an impact player.
Eventually, we loaned him out to Dundee as part of his journey and there was some good and bad in that. It wasn’t perfect, but it got him regular football that was important for his development.
He came back ready for what we felt would be a big year for him and did his cruciate. And just as he was about to complete the full cycle of his rehab, the league shut down with Covid.
He came back for pre-season and we told him it was our intention to go with a back five and two No 10s, which was to be him and Ryan Hedges.
He was told he would get an opportunity to establish himself in that position, right where he wanted to be.
A lot of people assume that because you are quick you have to play on the side. Maybe that was true for Scott when he was younger — I gave him his debut as a 16-year-old in a Europa League qualifier playing off the side and it was maybe less physical for his still developing body. It is also a bit more simplistic tactically, playing against a full-back.
But as he got stronger and gained more experience, that more central role suited him.
Rangers don’t play with wingers either. They play with inside forwards and ask the front three to be really narrow out of possession and give them the freedom to go and play from that central area. Scott can really thrive in that role.
We got a lot of joy with he and Hedges behind Marley Watkins. When Marley came towards the ball, Scott and Ryan both had the speed to run in behind and cause problems. But we lost Marley to a five-month injury and Scott, too, with a double hernia.
Just as we got him fit, we lost him to Rangers.
He has been very mature in how he has dealt with the move. I think he has impressed Steven Gerrard, the coaches and the players there.
When you go to a club like Rangers, you are desperate to play your part, get the manager’s trust and show that you have a role to play. Slowly but surely he is doing that.
He still has competition from Fashion Sakala, Ianis Hagi, Joe Aribo and Kemar Roofe. But I do think if Kent is going to be missing, then Scott is the one player who is most similar in that he can go and eliminate people with his speed and trickery.
He’s already made a good impression and now he may well get a run at it.