Speaking recently on PLZ Soccer – The Football Show, Darren Jackson stated that Ryan Kent needs to take himself to another level this season at Rangers.
Since joining Gers from Liverpool in a deal that was originally a loan, before the Scottish side made it a £6.48 million permanent move last September, Kent has made 81 appearances for the club, scoring 17 goals and providing 13 assists.
Last season, the winger managed eight goals and four assists over his 34 appearances in all competitions, with seven of those goals coming over his 21 fixtures in the Scottish Premiership.
There has been some slight uncertainty over the future of the 23-year-old recently, with Leeds United reportedly making a £10 million bid for the £3.15 million-rated man, however, Steven Gerrard’s side ‘strongly rejected’ the offer.
However, despite the interest in the player from a Premier League side, Darren Jackson recently stated on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show, that Kent needs to up his game for Rangers this season.
He said: “We all know he has the ability, there’s no doubt about that. But when you look at last year, he didn’t have an assist – and playing for Rangers, that isn’t good enough. That’s where he needs to take himself to another level.
“There’s no doubt he’s got ability, you’ve [seen that in] the way he’s started the season. His finish on Saturday [against Kilmarnock], he’s kept his composure to pick the spot – there were defenders in front of him, the goalkeeper couldn’t see, it’s just the way he’s picked his spot.
“I’ve maybe been a little bit critical of him, just because he needs to do more in games. Because when you see people with ability, you think ‘I want more from you. Go and take this game [by] the scruff of the neck. Go and win games for Rangers.’ He has the ability in the last third to go and create and to go and score goals.”
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TIF Thoughts…
From Jackson’s comments, then, it is clear that the pundit believes that Kent has the ability to be a real player for Rangers, however, that he is not quite fully developed as a player just yet.
However, considering the fact that Kent has scored three goals from his five Scottish Premiership games this season, as well as averaging a highly impressive WhoScored match rating of 7.84, it would seem as if the 23-year-old is indeed playing just fine this season so far.