Rangers face Dundee in their final match prior to the international break
Glasgow Rangers return to domestic action this afternoon as Dundee are the opposition in the final match before the international break.
Philippe Clement saw his side crash to a 1-0 defeat against Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday evening and there could be a few changes to the starting XI today.
One advantage of the end of the European run is that fixture congestion will not be an issue, which may benefit an injury-ravaged squad in the final few weeks of the season.
Although some players struggled against Benfica, Todd Cantwell’s recovery from a hamstring injury led to some positive results.
Todd Cantwell’s performance in stats versus DundeeTom Lawrence started as number ten against the Portuguese in midweek, but he was substituted by Cantwell with less than 20 minutes remaining, much to the joy of the Ibrox crowd.Although Cantwell struggled to get into the game that was sliding away from Rangers, seeing him back in action would have been a huge comfort for Clement.
| Todd Cantwell’s previous match against Dundee | |
|---|---|
| Accurate passes | 22/24 (92% success) |
| Key passes | 2 |
| Shots on target | 1 |
| Possession lost | 2 |
| Touches | 25 |
| Via Sofascore | |
He could start against Dundee to test his fitness, and there is no question that the midfielder can terrorise their defence.
Todd Cantwell’s Season in NumbersClement’s £1.5 million transfer from Norwich in January 2023 has performed well in his preferred offensive midfield position.Despite contributing ten goals and four assists in the 2023/24 season, the 26-year-old has only played 27 games due to injuries.
- After struggling under Michael Beale, the Belgian moved Cantwell to a more central position, which has resulted in five Premiership goals since Christmas Eve, signalling an inspired move.
Among his teammates, the Englishman presently ranks fourth for goals and assists (eight) in the top division, fifth for significant chances created (four), fourth for vital passes per game (1.6), and fifth for successful dribbles per game.If he had been injury-free, these statistics would undoubtedly be more spectacular, but they demonstrate how influential he can be when deployed as a number ten.Cantwell was praised by journalist Josh Bunting at the close of last season, stating that with his current momentum, he will be a key player for the Rangers. Has the desire.
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It may have taken him a few months and a change of manager to reach the heights he did between January and May of last year, but Cantwell appears to be at the pinnacle of his abilities.
Hopefully, the £22k-per-week midfielder has fully recovered from his hamstring injury and ready to unleash against Dundee, as his creative talents can undoubtedly unlock their defence.
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series features tactical discussions from around the globe game.If Clement’s team wins against the Taysiders, they will keep their two-point lead at the top of the league going into the break.Could Cantwell and co help the Gers win their first league title since 2021? Only time will tell.
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