In his post match reflection after Scottish Cup progression over Raith Rovers, Michael Beale provided insight and opportunity regarding the situation of Ridvan Yilmaz.
The diminutive Turkish international completed a positive week of work yesterday with his substitute appearance at Ibrox representing his first top team competitive action since his injury against Aberdeen in October.
It was the third taste of game action over a few days alongside John Souttar, with the pair getting minutes for the B team in the Glasgow Cup tie against Celtic last week. The manager then added further info, with the reveal of a potential incentive for the left sided player with Borna Barisic primed to attend more important family matters very soon.
Beale said of Ridvan at the press conference after the Raith win:
“He played 45 minutes on Tuesday and then on Friday we brought the B Team over and played another 30 minutes so that got him 75 and he got another 30 today. He has got good minutes in his legs this week.”
“He has found this week challenging and difficult, so has John Souttar as well. They have gone from hardly anything to getting quite significant minutes and moving forward we will hopefully see him fully fit now and he can start his Rangers career really. He has been stop-start.”
“Borna Barisic’s wife is expecting in the next few days so who knows, there might be an opportunity for him sooner rather than later to go in and start.”
That means the trip to Fir Park next weekend could see Ridvan slotting in on the left side which he would relish. Motherwell Away usually presents plenty of scope and space to get forward into attacking areas which would suit the game of the former Besiktas man. He doesn’t have the whip and delivery of Barisic but his eye for a through ball and deft movement is an advantage that he has over the Croatian.
The truth is we haven’t seen nearly enough of Ridvan to make a proper judgement on his ability so hopefully he can grasp his chance fully when it comes along, sooner or later.