Clement may already have a Goldson replacement in Rangers’ “Rolls Royce”

Glasgow Rangers return to motion after a two-week break following their defeat to Benfica at Ibrox within the Europa League final 16 second leg.

A visit to face Dundee was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, which means Philippe Clement has had loads of time to nurse his injured gamers again to full health forward of the Premiership match towards Hibs on Saturday afternoon.

Each match is now a cup last for the Mild Blues as they goal to win their first title since 2021. The defeat to Benfica could possibly be a blessing in disguise because the schedule will not be fairly as hectic, however they nonetheless must play ten matches (11 in the event that they attain the Scottish Cup last) between now and the top of Could.

Clement can be hoping his key gamers stay match and wholesome over the course of the subsequent few weeks as a possible treble is inside their grasp.

The defence specifically has been mightily spectacular this season, particularly domestically, and far of that is right down to the stable partnership of John Souttar and Connor Goldson.

Goldson made his 300th appearance for the Gers within the latest win over Hearts, displaying a degree of consistency that always goes underappreciated by the Ibrox trustworthy.

Connor Goldson’s statistics for Rangers this season

After 29 Premiership matches this season, Rangers have conceded just 16 goals, the bottom within the high flight. This defensive stability has confirmed essential to their latest ascent to the highest of the league desk, with Souttar and Goldson starring collectively.

There was the odd mistake or two, nonetheless. Throughout a tie towards Aberdeen in November, Goldson was caught out by a protracted ball excessive, permitting Bojan Miovski to run by means of and rating. He did win a penalty throughout harm time to salvage a draw, nonetheless.

Amongst his teammates, Goldson currently ranks third for correct passes per recreation (61.7), together with rating first for correct lengthy balls per recreation (5.7) and third for clearances per recreation (3), totally demonstrating his passing means all through the course of the season.

Souttar has additionally taken his recreation up one other degree since being deployed alongside Goldson, because the duo have fantastic chemistry.

The Englishman will hope to win one other league title and the Scottish Cup earlier than the top of the season, however the query is, how lengthy will he stay at Ibrox for?

Connor Goldson’s Rangers future

Heading into the ultimate few weeks of the 2021/22 season, Goldson’s contract was because of expire, with the hypothesis that he was going to depart for nothing as soon as the marketing campaign had ended.

At first of June, the defender signed a four-year extension with the membership, committing his future to the Glasgow facet as he aimed to win extra trophies.

“Connor is a crucial participant in our group and we’re delighted that following all of our discussions, he has determined to commit his long-term future to Rangers.” Said sporting director Ross Wilson on the time, and it has proved to be a giant coup protecting him at Ibrox.

The 31-year-old nonetheless has two years left on that contract, however Clement might be on the lookout for long-term replacements for the previous Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back, particularly as he seeks to decrease the common age of the squad.

The Belgian shouldn’t dive into the market and splash hundreds of thousands on a participant, nonetheless, as he has a great inheritor for Goldson already in his first-team squad – Leon King.

Leon King’s Rangers statistics

The 20-year-old displayed his spectacular abilities throughout the 2020/21 season, making his senior debut below Steven Gerrard throughout a League Cup conflict towards Falkirk.

Aged simply 16 on the time, he was given 19 minutes in direction of the top of the match, whereas Gerrard additionally gave him his league debut towards Livingston throughout the penultimate recreation of the championship-winning season.

It was clear the previous Liverpool captain was all for growing youth expertise and King was amongst probably the greatest in his age group.

King made six appearances in all competitions the next season, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst following Gerrard’s mantra of permitting children to blossom. He even began two of the ultimate three league matches that time period, displaying that the Dutchman trusted him.

This expertise definitely stood him in good stead forward of the 2022/23 marketing campaign, as he was known as into motion before he anticipated.

Accidents to Souttar and Ben Davies within the opening phases of the season noticed King deployed subsequent to Goldson in what was a baptism of fireside for the teen.

Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton hailed King as a “big Rolls Royce” throughout the summer season of 2022 and the teen demonstrated his qualities alongside Goldson.

All through the season, he made 23 appearances for the membership, which included six within the Champions League, going through off towards the likes of Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli.

Regardless of the Gers dropping all six matches within the competitors, King nonetheless managed to win 50% of his complete duels per recreation, together with making 1.7 tackles and finishing 25.5 passes per recreation, displaying that whereas he was thrown into the deep finish, he was greater than able to swimming.

With Goldson and Souttar thriving, plus Leon Balogun additionally starring at any time when he has been awarded a begin, King has discovered recreation time a lot more durable to come back by this time period in comparison with final.

The defender has made just four appearances – totalling 14 minutes general – throughout 2023/24, with a mortgage transfer maybe being essentially the most logical possibility for him subsequent season.

Previous to signing an extended contract with the Light Blues in December 2022, Premier League golf equipment comparable to Manchester United and Newcastle United have been circling across the teen, trying to make the most of his standing.

Whereas the last few months have been powerful, this studying course of will give Clement the chance to search out out if King has the maturity and dedication to stay on the membership for the long run.

Goldson will not final without end and King could be the good alternative to interchange him when he lastly departs Ibrox.

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