Ryan Kent has been impressive for Rangers this season but manager Steven Gerrard is looking for even more from the on-loan Liverpool talent, as reported by The Evening Times.
Fans are again clamouring for the winger to be signed permanently by the club this summer after his excellent performance against St Mirren this weekend, with his current loan deal set to expire at the end of the season.
Gerrard though seems firmly focused on the short-term and is hoping to push his game on to new heights over the coming months.
As quoted by The Evening Times, the Ibrox boss said after Saturday’s match:
He’s been excellent for us. He’s in good form, he’s happy but I’m going to keep pushing him because I want him to be hungrier to score more goals and I want him to keep being hungry to improve his numbers.
Today he could have got two goals, maybe three, so it was a good performance and I think he’s got man of the match, but for me it’s my job to push him and that’s what I’ll do.
For all his impressive performances, Gerrard is right to suggest that Kent’s numbers are a little on the soft side so far this season. He’s scored just four goals and assisted a further three times in 26 appearances.
His all-round displays have been excellent but should we be expecting more of an end product from the 22-year-old?
Hopefully with consistent selection in the second half of this term his direct goal contributions will ramp up.
With the likes of Jermain Defoe and Alfredo Morelos on the end of his crosses and through balls, his assist rate shoulder improve and he’s starting to show a lethal touch in front of goal too.
Gerrard is determined to get that out of him and I can’t wait to see it pay off.