Philippe Clement makes final call on Rangers’ Scott Wright | OneFootball

It’s rare when Ibrox Noise talks about Scott Wright. There’s no question the ex-Aberdeen winger is about as ‘honest’ and ‘hard working’ as they come, but Rangers’ trusty squad man is one who is pretty much the new whipping boy for fans, with his name greeted with exasperation when he starts, and hardly viewed as a game-changer when he comes on.

With Sam Lammers gone and Cyriel Dessers undeniably onto a better game these days and being recognised for that more, fans needed a new player to ‘love to hate’ and while no one ‘hates’ Wright, he is probably the most underwhelming member of the squad.

And with Rabbi Matondo’s injury, Wright may be getting called upon even more now…

Statistically speaking, pro-rata, of all players to have featured in the SPL this season for Rangers, and that’s 30 players incidentally, Wright is 4th bottom in the standings with a rating of 6.65 according to Sofascore. Top is James Tavernier with 8.10.

Which basically means only Lovelace, King and Rice are considered to have contributed less than Wright of all 30 players to have made SPL appearances this season.

If nothing else explains Wright’s confusing presence in Rangers’ team, this might be it.

The lad, as we know, is an honest trier, and he does give what he has, but what he has falls dramatically short of the levels even needed for a squad player.

That only three youth players with far less appearances than he have actually contributed less than Wright has, with his 14 appearances, shows just how poor he actually is.

As with all ‘player criticisms’ that we might make on Ibrox Noise, if Clement picks the boy, we will support the decision even if we don’t agree with it, and the Rangers machine under the Belgian pretty much allows the manager to get away with any call he makes.

But if there is one notably weak link in the squad that is stunningly below the level of the rest of the players, it is Wright, and he simply won’t add much if any quality when used.

He does have energy, and pace – he will indeed run till the cows come home, and he is absolutely useful as a late defence-energy-sapping sub to exploit those tiring rearguard pins as the minutes count down.

But if you expect quality balls, dribbles, shots, goals, assists or key passes and chances created, he will fall well short of pretty much everyone else.

But hey, it’s Big Phil’s call at the end of the day.

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