If ever there was a game to show someone what Ryan Kent brings to a football team it was Sunday’s Old Firm derby.
Those that look to criticise him will point purely to the number of goals he has scored this season as a reason to write him off, ignoring his assists – 17 so far – and, to a degree, there is some validity to their claims, there is no doubt that he should have scored more goals this campaign.
Modern football is so much more than that though and managers will have watched the Scottish Cup semi-final wishing that their forwards were capable of what our 25-year old former Liverpool academy product does, it’s no surprise that Leeds United are keeping tabs on him.
Having played extra-time on Thursday against Braga, Kent could have been forgiven for not being at his sharpest and yet he was a constant menace in and out of possession, not only was he harassing their centre-halves but, if they beat the first press, he would then track back and help out Borna Barisic and Calvin Bassey – his work rate for the full 120 minutes was ridiculous.
Deep in extra-time it was he who carried the ball before releasing Bassey at exactly the right moment and he was the one who kept them pinned back, pressurising Cameron Carter-Vickers into mistakes, Kent might not be the biggest but he certainly punches above his weight. That he was still able to put the after burners on after two gruelling games is a testament to his attitude and just how much he wants to win.
Jota and Liel Abada may have scored more goals but I bet Ange Postecoglu would swap both of them for Kent in a heart beat, he maybe didn’t tear them apart as he has done in the past, but he certainly ran them into submission.