Player Rangers sold for just £500k now labelled 'one of the most talented in the league'
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The good news for Philippe Clement is that, if Rangers are to enjoy a successful end to the 2024/25 season, Ibrox is home to a handful of players happy to take on something of a talisman’s role.
Hamza Igamane continued his remarkable run of form against St Johnstone, firing home an eighth goal in just 11 Scottish Premiership starts.
Former Eredivisie sparring partners Vaclav Cerny and Danilo are clicking again in the final third, meanwhile, while CEO Patrick Stewart expects a big 2025 from the improving Nedim Bajrami and Jefte.
Rangers may have left themselves with far too much to do in terms of a title race – losing their footing on the slippiest of slopes as Celtic prepare to slam their green-and-white flag into the summit – but with a Scottish Cup and the Europa League on the line, all is not lost at Ibrox just yet.
South of the border, meanwhile, a player who left Glasgow and returned to England over the summer could also be the difference between a disappointing second half and a successful one.
Todd Cantwell backed to spark Blackburn promotion push after Rangers exit
A run of five winless Championship games may have taken a sledgehammer to Blackburn Rovers’ promotion hopes but, as long as Todd Cantwell is around at Ewood Park, John Eustace’s team can never really be written off.
At least, that is the view of EFL expert George Elek.
Blackburn are still seventh, only two points off fifth-place Middlesbrough, despite a worrying run either side of New Year’s Day. And, while Cantwell has just one goal and three assists to show from his 20 appearances, Elek would not be surprised to see a player who has dominated at this level before with Norwich City be the catalyst behind a plucky play-off push.
“I worry they may not quiet have the firepower needed to do this,” Elek muses, Blackburn the lowest scorers in the Championship’s top half with only 28 from 25 matches.
“But I think, in Todd Cantwell, they have; A] one of the most talented players in the league anyway and, B] is seeming improving week-on-week. [Cantwell] is one of the best creative players and himself a big goal threat too.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all of Cantwell is the main man for a side who are going to have a very good second half of the season.”
Rovers boss John Eustace labels Cantwell an ‘outstanding talent’
Philippe Clement indicated that homesickness may have been a factor in Todd Cantwell’s Rangers’ departure. He crossed Hadrian’s Wall again for a cut-price fee of £500,000 over the summer, Ewood Park becoming a ‘home’ for Cantwell in the way Ibrox never really was.
“He’s got better and better and he’s a real pivotal player for us, and gives us that platform to build and play,” Eustace told reporters six weeks ago, Cantwell ‘outstanding’ as his first and so far only goal fired Blackburn to a 1-0 win over table-topping Leeds United.
“You can see as we are evolving as a football team he’s a big part of that. I think he feels at home now here. The players love him to bits.
“He’s a cracking lad and it’s important that he keeps developing and improving as the group do.”
