Forget Arfield: GVB must finally unleash Rangers gem who can “create his own chances”

Rangers return to action at Ibrox tomorrow as Gio van Bronckhorst’s team look to make their way through to the next round of the Europa League.

The Gers beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 in the first leg away from home and now play host to the Bundesliga outfit in Glasgow on Thursday night.

Dundee United managed to hold the Light Blues to a shock 1-1 draw in the Premiership at the weekend and the players will need to quickly erase that negative feeling from their bodies ahead of this match.

Should Sakala start?

Forget Arfield

One change that must be made from that draw is the introduction of Fashion Sakala out wide. FFC published an article explaining why Scott Arfield should be dropped from the starting XI and the summer signing is the man who should replace him.

Sakala has enjoyed a respectable start to his Rangers career since arriving at the club last summer. He has not been able to nail down a regular spot in the starting XI, but he has been a useful squad player who has been able to provide quality when called upon and he must now receive the call from his boss for this match.

The £8.3k-per-week gem offers a different type of threat on the flank to Arfield. Whilst the Canadian’s movement off the ball is clever and he works hard for the team, Sakala’s raw pace and power make him a huge asset on the counter-attack on and off the ball.

He can sprint down the channel to get on the end of a pass or get the ball down at his feet and beat a defender in a one-on-one situation. This could be crucial in a game where they may not see the majority of the possession and breaking at pace could be key to achieving success in the final third.

To emphasise this point, earlier this season his manager van Bronckhorst said: “We know the qualities he has – he’s fast, he’ll run with the ball to create his own chances.”

The 24-year-old attacker has also shown off his ability to score goals, with eight strikes and two assists for the Gers this term. This includes six strikes in seven Premiership starts for the club, with a further 14 appearances off the bench and only two starts in the Europa League.

Therefore, the Dutch head coach must finally unleash the Zambian from the start after so many cameos as a substitute and allow the attacker to make himself a hero at Ibrox against the German giants.

AND in other news,  Forget Amad: Gvb must unearth “exciting” 18 y/o Rangers dynamo who impressed Murty…