PHILIPPE CLEMENT has backed Rangers’ top goalscorer Cyriel Dessers and insisted: Nobody else gets the same flak.
Belgian Clement started a transformation in the form of the striker after becoming Gers boss in October, 2023, following a struggle for form after Michael Beale signed him from Cremonese for £4.5 million.
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Dessers, though, has still suffered from split fans opinion about his capabilities – despite even finishing last season as the Premiership’s top scorer and overall hitting 29 goals.
In total, the Nigerian international has notched 51 goals in 108 games.
But doubts remain over his long term Ibrox future with new head coach Russell Martin now weighing up the squad he’s inherited from the Clement era.
But Martin’s predecessor can’t believe there’s not more appreciation of the 30-year-old frontman.
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Clement said: “I think Cyriel gets abuse like nobody else in the club or on the pitch at least.
“But he always was there to work hard, to do everything for the club every day, every training, every game.
“Also, in his career, he never scored as many goals as he did at Rangers.
“In the end he performed really well with his qualities.
“I think he was top scorer at the end of the season.
“Of course fans always want more, but I think Cyriel, if he played in a team that won the league, then he would be for everybody a good player.
“But if you don’t win the league then for the fans you are not a good player any more.
“That’s life at Rangers.”
When we did our deep dive into how Martin could transform Rangers ahead of the new season, we couldn’t find a place for Dessers in the starting XI.
Hamza Igamane will fancy his chances of kicking on and there’s been reported interest from Gers in Premier League cult hero Jamie Vardy, 38, and another striker at the other end of his career, 21-year-old Dor Turgeman.
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