'Really impressed me': Neil Lennon admits he's a big fan of Rangers star who signed for just £1.7m
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Sunday’s Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers will throw up a few intriguing head-to-head battles on the Parkhead pitch.
Daizen Maeda has given James Tavernier the runaround in recent clashes between the two Glasgow giants. The green-and-white hooped Roadrunner to Rangers’ blundering Wile E Coyote.
Tavernier has been ‘immense’ under Barry Ferguson in a new-look central defensive role, however. With less space to run into either side of the ageing skipper, can he do what he has failed to do so many times and keep the formidable Maeda at arms’ length?
Further forward, can Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande and Nico Raskin seize control against a Celtic side who are sweating on the fitness of Callum McGregor?
Kris Boyd fears for Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz up against Nicolas Kuhn and Jota, and the Rangers duo will certainly need to keep their wits about them when bombing forward.
And, presuming he gets some Old Firm minutes under his belt, can Hamza Igamane end a goal drought which now extends beyond two months?
- READ MORE:Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present
Celtic hero Neil Lennon praises Hamza Igamane’s impact at Rangers
The Moroccan scored 12 goals in a thrilling 15 game spell either side of Christmas. The most recent, however, came against Aberdeen in mid-January.
Yet, Igamane still has an admirer in the shape of Celtic legend Neil Lennon. When asked to name a player from each side who have caught his eye the most across the 2024/25, a player who arrived at Ibrox as an unknown £1.7 million quantity was the first name which came to mind.
“Well, Maeda’s having an unbelievable season. He’s been so good,” Lennon says. “On the Rangers side, Igamane has really impressed me.”
Celtic icon Lennon praised Nico Raskin too during December’s thrilling League Cup final at Hampden Park. Buoyed by a first-ever call up to the senior Belgium squad this week, Rangers will need Raskin to be at his most ferocious from the off with Celtic looking to extend their lead at the top to 19 points.
“I do think Celtic at home will be very, very strong on Sunday,” adds Lennon, who was in the Parkhead dugout the last time Rangers won away to their rivals back in 2020.
“Obviously Rangers had a great result on Thursday night. But Celtic at home is a formidable opponent. They’re in great form themselves, had a brilliant season so far, and I think they’ll want to right the wrong of the game at Ibrox [a 3-0 defeat to start 2025].
“It’s like every Old Firm game. There’s always something riding on it, there’s always a story to it, and this one’s no different. I mean, I think Celtic will want to put a marker down, and it’ll be interesting to see how much recovery Rangers get from the game.”
Brendan Rodgers impressed by Barry Ferguson during Fenerbahce triumph
Brendan Rodgers feels Rangers’ inconsistencies remain post-Philippe Clement. Technically, they did suffer a fourth straight Ibrox defeat on Thursday night, while going 2-0 down for a third match in the last four.
Yet, Rodgers is impressed by the way Barry Ferguson managed to outfox the great Jose Mourinho with a fresh 3-4-2-1 system.
"I see the team go 2-0 down against Kilmarnock and come back and win. I see the team lose at home to Motherwell. I see the team go away and get a fantastic result at Fenerbahce. And then I see the team lose last night 2-0 over 90 minutes but win the tie.
"I've seen the team change the system. Absolutely, a really good tactical change to go 5-4-1 at Fenerbahce.
"[But] I see a lot of the same traits. Some very good performances, some inconsistencies, and Barry will see that."
