Philippe Clement faces a crucial decision ahead of Rangers’ upcoming clash with Kilmarnock, as he weighs the possibility of benching Cyriel Dessers from the starting lineup. Dessers managed to secure the winning goal against St Mirren on the 28th of April, hitting the back of the net in the 74th minute for his 20th goal of the season across various competitions.

Despite his match-winning goal, Dessers’ overall performance fell short of expectations, reflecting a recurring pattern throughout the season. Criticisms have been mounting on the striker, urging for a significant improvement in his gameplay.

During the recent encounter with St Mirren, commentator Joshua Barrie highlighted the pressing need for Rangers to have a striker capable of propelling them forward effectively. Barrie remarked, “Rangers truly require a striker who can push them up the field, whether through ball retention or making runs in behind. Dessers’ impact has been notably lacking.”

Having faced Kilmarnock thrice since his hefty £4.3 million transfer to Ibrox last summer, Dessers is yet to find the back of the net against them, as revealed by Fabrizio Romano. Given the intense competition at the summit of the Scottish Premiership, where Rangers are striving to surpass Celtic in the title race, Clement risks potential regrets if he opts to sideline Dessers.

Even though the 29-year-old striker has reached an impressive tally of 20 goals in all competitions this season, Barrie’s critique rings true in emphasizing Rangers’ need for a more adept ball-handler in the attacking role. Dessers’ underwhelming performance against St Mirren, with just 29 touches, a 44% success rate in ground duels, and a 0% success rate in aerial duels, underscores the necessity for a forward who can provide better ball retention.

While Dessers did come to Rangers’ rescue by securing a crucial victory over St Mirren, his subpar overall display suggests that Clement faces a challenging decision regarding the striker’s inclusion in the starting XI.