Rangers: How does manager Philippe Clement solve the Todd Cantwell conundrum?
- Published
Todd Cantwell grabbed two assists in Sunday's Scottish Premiership win over St Mirren
Philippe Clement made five changes to the Rangers side that suffered European disappointment during the week, but it was a name retained on the team sheet that caught the attention against St Mirren on Sunday afternoon.
Todd Cantwell was ruthlessly hooked after just 36 minutes as the Ibrox side laboured to a draw with Aris Limassol, a result that leaves their Europa League hopes on a knife's edge.
His replacement, the effervescent Ross McCausland, scored his first goal for the club in a performance that injected life into a limp home side.
The vibrancy of the youngster's display, coupled with Cantwell's substandard showing, prompted questions on the latter's future under the new Rangers boss.
That's why eyebrows were raised as the former Norwich City midfielder was named to start against St Mirren, just as Celtic were celebrating moving 11 points clear with a comeback win at St Johnstone.
The leaders' victory in Perth meant there was no room for error. If Cantwell wants to fulfil his hopes of becoming a big player at a big club, it is in games like Sunday's where he needs to step up.
However, he flattered to deceive for much of the first half. Given licence to roam in the number 10 role, rather than being pushed out to the wings, the Englishman failed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
However, a run in the St Mirren penalty box late in the first period resulted in Abdallah Sima smashing in the opener off his team-mate's toes.
The midfielder's performance improved in the second half and he reminded Ibrox of his talent when a rigid visiting defence was unlocked in an instant with an arrowed through ball into the path of Sima to kill the game.
It's the kind of pass few players in the Premiership could pull off. It's the kind of pass that got Rangers fans buzzing about Cantwell's arrival at the start of the year. It's the kind of pass he must deliver more to meet the demands of the fans - and his manager.
'Decisive' Cantwell delivered 'really good reaction'
An early withdrawal on Thursday threatened to derail the relationship between player and manager, but Clement was more than happy with Cantwell's response.
"It's what we expect of him," the Rangers manager told BBC Scotland. "He played a really good game on and off the ball. He was in the right positions. He was decisive with two assists.
"Thursday, he was really disappointed in his own performance. He knew it was not his standard. It was a really good reaction. I changed him in the last five minutes so he could get the applause of the supporters because I knew it would come."
Some would argue that Cantwell's character - flamboyant off the pitch and unshrinking on social media - welcomes the noise, but former Rangers striker Steven Thompson feels the midfielder relishes support from the stands.
"Cantwell is a confidence player and had a much better second half after being involved in the first goal," Thompson said on Sportsound. "He thrives on the crowd getting behind him. When he does something good, he wants the adulation."
That adulation will only come if Cantwell can deliver consistency.
On his day, he can leave teams in his wake with the way he picks off defences with the kind of killer pass he unleashed against St Mirren.
However, until he can do so on a regular basis, question marks will linger. Without a resolution, both Cantwell and Rangers risk further spells of unfulfilled promise.
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