'There will be competition' - Rangers boss fires warning to misfiring striker Cyriel Dessers

Speaking after his side's 4-0 win over OGC Nice in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, Rangers manager Philippe Clement fired a warning to Cyriel Dessers, urging him to improve to secure his place in the starting lineup amid growing competition.

The Belgian-born forward was not in the starting lineup for the Light Blues in the clash with summer arrival Hamza Igamane getting the nod ahead of him.

Igamane made a good case for himself by bagging a brace and an assist in the fixture, thereby posing a threat to Dessers’ place in the team

The Nigeria international did himself no good when he came on for the young Moroccan forward, missing a golden opportunity to get on the scoresheet.

A minute before stoppage time, Dessers received a cross inside the penalty box, controlled it and only had to beat the goalkeeper but shockingly drilled his effort wide.

When asked whether the 29-year-old needs to improve, Clement affirmed, stating that there would be competition between him and his other central forward options.

In quotes relayed by Football Scotland, the Rangers gaffer said: "Yeah, for sure. There will be competition between them, and it's about being who is in the best shape at one moment. That is never a decision for weeks or months, that's showing it game by game."

Dessers came off at half-time in the 1-1 draw with Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership game contested at the Ibrox Stadium last weekend, which proves Clement's lack of trust in his ability at the moment.

The former Cremonse forward has three goals across all competitions since the start of October.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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