It should, should, be an exciting week for Rangers fans if everything goes to plan over the next few days, Ross Wilson deep in negotiations to get as many as three new faces through the door to strengthen Michael Beale’s side with Todd Cantwell kicking things off.
One area that the manager has wanted to improve is in forward areas, both in terms of creativity and goal scoring but, against St Johnstone, we were served a reminder that we still have home grown options, if they are given a chance.
I always had high hopes for Charlie McCann and thought that he could have been a valuable member of Rangers midfield, latterly, he was probably the only genuine number eight available to the manager but he is on his way back down south. When Scott Arfield and Steven Davis were both given contract extensions, the pathway for the 21-year old became a lot harder to negotiate – a manager, other than the bravest, will always pick tried and tested over promising and potential.
McCann might not have made it, however, former B side team-mate Alex Lowry continues to be part of the first-team’s plans and, after coming off the bench on Saturday, he served a reminder that, if he is given more minutes, he can be a difference maker.
Alex Lowry doing Alex Lowry things, wee outside the boot pass to put Alfredo clear through pic.twitter.com/dGAbCcDEl5
— Pena Cartel (@PenaCartel) January 22, 2023
Moments before putting Alfredo Morelos clean through, Scott Wright had a similar opportunity but took too many touches, played the ball behind the Colombian and a free-kick was given for offside due to the winger’s hesitancy – compare this to Lowry, who takes one touch before sliding a perfectly weighted pass through the St Johnstone defence, Morelos should do a lot better than he did.
The biggest concern is that, with Cantwell signed, that Lowry’s game time will be reduced further but that shouldn’t be the case. Lowry can play off the left, centrally and off the right, he can also play as a number eight and, with five substitutes allowed, there is no reason why we shouldn’t see him more often, especially if he continues to demonstrate moments of quality like this.