View: Clement has no option but to take Rangers selection gamble after news that emerged yesterday

Rangers manager Philippe Clement may have to thrust Ross McCausland into the spotlight following the injury to Oscar Cortes last weekend.

It was reported via Mail Online [5 August] that Cortes will be absent for a period of four to five weeks with a knee problem picked up in the Scottish Premiership opener at Hearts on Saturday.

McCausland was not named in the matchday squad by Clement with Rabbi Matondo replacing Cortes early in the second half of the stalemate at Tynecastle, but the Northern Ireland international could now see an opening to be a key player in his manager’s plans.

The Light Blues take on Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday (6 August) in the first leg of a crucial Champions League third qualifying round tie.

Can McCausland become vital for Rangers?

Whilst it’s fair to say McCausland hasn’t set the world alight so far for Rangers, he is firstly far from alone and also has time on his side at the age of 21.

However, the weekend draw at Hearts combined with Celtic’s stroll to a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock is an early sign of the challenge Clement and his team have on their hands to keep pace this season.

The Belgian knows the wins must start arriving imminently, and has to be able to rely on each member of his squad – and McCausland falls into the category of players who have shown glimpses, but cannot yet be considered as players to be counted on for an entire season when trying to wrestle back titles.

The injury to Cortes is undoubtedly a blow and even more frustrating for Clement considering the injury woes he had last season. He was also arguably the Gers’ standout player in Edinburgh at the weekend before being forced off.

It was in the same fixture at the end of last season when McCausland netted his third league goal of the campaign, firing twice in the same week as the winger scored against both Dundee and Hearts.

Whilst ending his personal progress well in 2023-24, now could be the avenue McCausland needs to carve his way back into Clement’s full reckoning as a player who can consistently deliver for his side at a time they need him most.

In other Rangers news, Clement cuts off a question aimed at Leon Balogun about Cyriel Dessers before the Dynamo Kyiv clash.

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