FORMER Rangers striker Gary McSwegan believes the Ibrox club could benefit from bringing in a target man to partner Alfredo Morelos up front as they bid to stop Celtic winning 10-In-A-Row.
And McSwegan believes that Sam Cosgrove, who scored 23 times for Aberdeen in the 2019/20 season, would be the ideal foil for Morelos in the forthcoming campaign.
“I wasn’t sure about Florian Kamberi when he first came in from Hibs, but I think he did well for himself,” he said. “When Morelos had a dip in form they brought him in and he didn’t do himself any harm at all. He is still young enough as well.
“But I still think Rangers need a different type, a bigger striker, up there as well. I look at Aberdeen and the problems that Sam Cosgrove caused for teams last season. He is the right size, gets into the right places and is effective. Rangers haven’t had that and I think he could have made a difference in some games.
“They certainly need somebody of that type who can allow them to change it. I mean a Mark Hateley type, somebody who can be physical in the box and pose a threat from crosses.
“I know this Rangers team like to play with the ball on the ground and their passing is good as well. But I think there is an awful lot of crosses which go into the opposition box from Borna Barisic and James Tavernier as well and a low percentage of them are converted. That would be a different situation if they had a big target man in there.
“He could hold it up as well. That maybe sounds a bit antiquated now. But I don’t think it would be a step back. Lots of teams, even in the Premier League down south, have big lads up front. Not every side can play like Man City and Liverpool.”
McSwegan added: “It would be interesting seeing Morelos playing with a strike partner like that. I don’t know if he’s ever done that. I don’t know if Rangers will change their shape this year and go 3-5-2 like Celtic or 4-4-2. Who knows?
“But if they did they would be a handful. It would relieve some of the pressure that is on Morelos as well. If he is up against two centre backs then he is second favourite to win any ball that comes into the box. That is different if he has somebody there with him.
“But the biggest thing for me is they have to go out and sign two or three players who are going to start. That is real declaration of intent, a statement, if they do that. If they bring in boys similar to what they have got I don’t know if that is going to be the answer.”
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