Former Leeds United skipper gives verdict on Dessers-Igamane strike partnership at Rangers

Former Leeds United captain Ross McCormack has weighed in on Rangers’ recent pairing of Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers and Morocco international Hamza Igamane in attack, Footynaija.com reports.

Dessers was Rangers’ first choice striker at the start of the current campaign. However, a run of bad games saw the Nigeria international lose his place in the team, with Rangers manager Philippe Clement charging 22-year-old Igamane with the responsibility of leading the attack, a role the Moroccan handled quite capably.

Following a mid-season resurgence, Dessers has now re-established himself as an important part of Clement’s setup at Ibrox, despite appearing closer to leaving than remaining with the Scottish Premiership giants during the January transfer window.

With both Dessers and Igamane in fine form, Clement opted to pair both strikers up top, a tactic which worked well for the Blues as they are yet to lose a game in which the Nigeria and Morocco internationals have started together in attack.

Dessers has scored 18 goals and provided five assists in 39 games for Rangers, while Igamane has 13 goals and 3 assists in 31 games.

McCormack, who began his professional career at Ibrox back in 2004 before going on to make 144 appearances for Leeds between 2010-2014, believes the 30-year-old Nigerian unlocks his 22-year-old Moroccan counterpart whenever they play together.

“I’ve been a fan of Cyriel Dessers this season. I like it when he plays. I think he gives Rangers a different dimension.

“I think, when he plays, Igamane’s then got the freedom to go and sort of do whatever he wants; Drop deep, link the play, turn and run at people, play. I think he looks a far better player for that,” McCormack said in quotes revealed by Rangers News UK.