Gers attacker snubbed in £73.5m replacement hunt for La Liga option with 0 goals this season
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Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers cut a frustrated figure when he was subbed off against St Johnstone on Scottish Premiership duties.
The big Nigerian striker, 29, missed a golden chance when he saw his free-header loop over the St Johnstone net in the first half.
In a moment, it somewhat summed up the frustrations Rangers fans have had with Cyriel Dessers. Frustrations they've had no trouble in espousing.
A thoroughly likeable personality at Ibrox, Dessers has blown hot and cold over his 15 months or so in Glasgow with the number nine jersey often weighing heavy on the hitman.
And that inconsistency has impacted the striker's international opportunities with Dessers once again being snubbed by the Nigeria national team.
Nigeria manager explains Cyriel Dessers snub
Nigeria face a big selection dilemma heading into this week's African Cup of Nations double-header against Libya.
The Super Eagles will be without star striker and Galatasaray hitman Victor Osimhen for the home and away clashes.
Napoli paid a reported £73.5m (BBC Sport) to sign the striker in 2020 but the 25-year-old now finds himself in Turkey, where Osimhen has suffered a muscle strain.
Speaking after Nigeria unveiled their squad for the clashes, manager Augustine Eguavoen namedropped Cyriel Dessers in his search for a replacement.
Dessers has a solid return of seven goals already this season for Rangers – enough to have any international boss turning their head – but is now without a goal in four matches.
As a result, Eguavoen has opted to go with more experience in Sevilla striker Kelechi Iheanacho despite the fact the ex-Leicester City striker is without a goal this season.
The Nigeria manager also claims that he cast his glances at Genk forward Tolu Arokodare, the striker scoring six goals in ten Belgian Pro League matches this season.
“I decided to include Kelechi Iheanacho of Seville when it became clear Victor Osimhen would not be fit in time," Eguavoen said, as quoted by the Rangers Review.
“I looked at both Cyriel Dessers and Tolu Arokodare, but opted for Kelechi this time because he is the more experienced striker.”
The decision means Dessers is now without an international call since March this year, where he earned his sixth international cap in a friendly against Mali.
Rangers striker faces big Nigeria striker challenge
The comments highlight just how much of a challenge Cyriel Dessers faces to break into the Nigeria squad.
The Super Eagles have a host of striking talent with Osimhen just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the West African nation's options.
In this squad alone, Augustine Eguavoen has included Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen and Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest in the set-up.
What it means is that in order for Cyriel Dessers to be a regular in the Nigeria set-up, the striker needs to be delivering for Rangers.
The decision not to include Cyriel for the clashes with Libya could also be part of the reason why the hitman was so frustrated when he was substituted against Rangers.
There's a real feeling of frustration amongst Ibrox fans as the club's new-look squad wrestles to balance itself out this season.
Cyriel Dessers, now over a year into his Rangers journey, is under pressure to deliver consistently for the club in the number nine role.
How the next few months go could play a defining role in not just Dessers' journey at Ibrox, but with the Nigeria national team too.
