Rangers Legend tips Dessers to come good despite fans’ doubts

Dessers arrived at Rangers with high expectations on his shoulders, but he is yet to get into his stride

Retired Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson has tipped Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers to get into his stride soon despite his slow start, Soccernet reports.

Dessers joined Scottish giants Rangers from Cremonese for €5.5million. The 28-year-old Nigerian striker struggled in Italy last season, scoring just six goals in 26 games.

However, the Gers had high expectations because of his previous performances at Genk and Feyenoord. Still, he has not lived up to the billing.

Dessers made his competitive debut for the former Scottish champions two weeks ago, but he failed to impress as they lost by a lone goal to Kilmarnock in their Premiership opener.

He eventually broke the duck last week against Servette in their Champions League qualifier, but he failed to score in the Gers’ 4-0 victory over Livingston last weekend. Dessers saw 71 minutes of action, but he failed to score and was booed by the fans while leaving the pitch.

Former Rangers man Ferguson acknowledges that Dessers has had a tough start. However, he believes the Nigeria international needs more time to get into his stride.

“For Dessers, I feel for the big man because the fans were on his case at Ibrox last weekend, and he dropped onto the bench against Servette,” Ferguson told the Daily Record per Rangers Review.

“That’s a double dunt to deal with so early in his Rangers career. This might sound daft but it’s almost as if he’s trying too hard to make a good impression, and the more desperate he gets, the less is coming off.

“When he smashed one off the post on Tuesday night, it summed up his current luck.

“Dessers looks like a player who needs one big moment just to take the weight off his shoulders. It didn’t happen in Switzerland but he’s a stick-on to start against Morton, and this tie might be the perfect opportunity for him to get fully up and running. 

Dessers has to get to his best soon as he faces stern competition from Sam Lammers and Danilo to be the first striker at the Ibrox Stadium.