Article body analysed

By CALUM CROWE AND GARY KEOWN Published: 12: 45 AEDT, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 12: 47 AEDT, 5 December 2024 View comments Rangers are still hopeful of being able to pursue a deal to sign Neraysho Kasanwirjo next summer despite the defender being struck down by a serious knee injury. After the 1-0 win over St Johnstone last weekend, Ibrox boss Philippe Clement confirmed that Kasanwirjo will be out for between four to six months following knee surgery. Currently on loan from Feyenoord, it means the 22-year-old could well be ruled out for the remainder of the season. Rangers retain an option to buy the Netherlands Under 21 international next summer and, despite the injury, they aren’t giving up on that just yet. Prior to his injury, Kasanwirjo’s form had been impressive enough to displace club captain James Tavernier from the team. He was settling in fairly well at Ibrox and the club were optimistic that he could nail down a regular starting place in the long-term. Philippe Clement has been in need of cover for his struggling team at right back Kasanwirjo (pictured in action against Hearts) has now been sidelined in a huge blow to Rangers Kasanwirjo suffered his injury playing for Netherlands Under-21s In particular, his versatility was viewed as a major asset by Clement, with Kasanwirjo equally adept at covering right-back and centre-back. The injury is a hammer blow and he is now back at Feyenoord doing his rehab work. But Rangers aren’t closing the door on the player. Offord alarm bells will make AGM even livelier Rangers will hold their AGM on Thursday afternoon and there’s every chance it could be a fairly lively affair given the levels of unrest among the club’s supporters. Over the past few months, Rangers fans have unfurled several banners taking aim at the club’s board and their perceived mismanagement of the club. The botched construction work at Ibrox back in the summer, poor results on the pitch and poor recruitment have all contributed to a fanbase losing their patience. This week’s news that talks have broken down with proposed incoming chaiman Malcolm Offord have also set alarm bells ringing about just what is going on at the top level of the club. Shareholders will now have a chance to vocalise their frustrations and ask questions of the club’s hierarchy when the AGM takes place at the Clyde Auditorium. The top table will look very different from a year ago. The likes of John Bennett, James Bisgrove and Creag Robertson have all moved on. Malcolm Offord was in the running to be chairman before talks broke down Interim chairman John Gilligan will have to provide answers at Rangers' AGM on Thursday Delayed construction work at Ibrox earlier this season will be among topics under discussion It will be on interim chairman John Gilligan to try and provide answers as best he can, with new chief executive Patrick Stewart not taking charge until later this month. Aside from the recruitment concerns, two issues are likely to dominate the agenda. Firstly, what is the immediate future of manager Philippe Clement? Do the club remain committed to him? Would a defeat to Celtic in the League Cup final in a couple of weeks spell the end for the under-fire Belgian? An emphatic Europa League victory in Nice last week undoubtedly bought Clement some time, but another heavy defeat to Celtic would wipe out that credit. Secondly, the issue of finance. How do the club plan to address the £17. 2million black hole in their latest annual accounts? Will Clement be given any sort of budget to spend in January? It promises to be a feisty affair as disgruntled fans and shareholders demand answers. The sooner Nsiala finds his feet the better  There was a much-needed boost around Ibrox following the impact made by Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane when he was handed an opportunity to shine against Nice in the Europa League. With Brazilian forward Danilo inching his way back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines and Cyriel Dessers still mixing the odd goal with even more frequent aberrations, the striking department was badly in need of the freshness brought by the unpolished Igamane. Clinton Nsiala in action for Rangers B during an SPFL Trust Trophy match How their defence could do with a similar injection of positivity, a new face to change the dynamic of what has become a stale, fragile and downright worrying component of the team. From Robin Propper being hauled off at half-time, to James Tavernier being out of the team and then suddenly back in the picture thanks to Neraysho Kasanwirjo’s unfortunate injury, no Rangers back-line is ever greeted with excited murmurs from the Ibrox support these days. So, no better time for forgotten summer singing Clinton Nsiala to step up and show why he arrived with such a fine pedigree after a three-year spell on the books at AC Milan, right? Well, perhaps not. A golden chance to stake his claim was spurned this week as the young French centre-half earned himself a red card after an off-the-ball incident in Rangers B’s 3-1 SPFL Trust quarter-final defeat to Queen’s Park. It’s not the first time Nsiala has shown his rough edges while acclimatising in the youths, and his lack of progress is no doubt a concern — and another ominous sign for a recruitment policy that is too often open to question. An imposing presence at 6ft 2in and more muscular than you would expect from the average 20-year-old, Nsiala undoubtedly has something to offer. But his lack of discipline is unlikely to see him skip the likes of Leon King in the queue for top-team consideration. With Clement’s first-team defence crying out for physicality and presence, the sooner Nsiala finds his feet the better. Hopes are high that Rice can build on Nice show  Rangers B-team coach David Mc Callum reckons Bailey Rice is perfectly set to build on his late substitute appearance in the 4-1 Europa League win over Nice — because he has a full understanding of the weak spots he has to work on to succeed. Bailey Rice made an unexpected first-team appearance in the victory over Nice in France Philippe Clement has words with Rice before throwing him into the fray against Nice Findlay Curtis is another young player fans would like to see get his chance in first team The 18-year-old midfielder has been around the first-team squad this season and came on for Nedim Bajrami with 10 minutes left to play on Euro duty last week. It was his first appearance for the top-team this term, but Mc Callum remains hopeful he can gain more experience with Philippe Clement’s team over the months ahead thanks to the level of self-awareness he has about his game. ‘Bailey is a very talented football player, ’ said Mc Callum. ‘Everybody who has worked with him in the academy was proud to see him play a Rangers first-team game in European competition, where you are playing against players of the highest quality. ‘Bailey showed he can cope with that. He is very driven and he backs himself. ‘He knows what he is good at and he knows where he can still continue to improve. That’s an important bit as well. ’ Ibrox fans have also been hoping 18-year-old Findlay Curtis might get some game time, given his steady scoring record for the B-team and the fact that Rangers are in a state of flux with regard to the forward line. Cyriel Dessers was dropped for the wins over Nice and St Johnstone in favour of Moroccan Hamza Igamane while Brazilian Danilo has not been able to re-establish himself as a first-pick. Mc Callum understands the hype that has been building around Curtis, but points out that the youngster has more to offer than just putting the ball in the back of the net. ‘There has been a lot of chat over the last weeks in regards to Findlay in terms of his output in goals, but Findlay is about much more than that. He contributes in different ways, but he has shown himself to be a very capable finisher. ‘He was also involved in the squad against Nice. ’ Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group