Thomas can be jewel in Ally McCoist crown

[ian1964 10,626]

LEE McCULLOCH today tipped supersub Thomas Bendiksen to provide the creative spark which can help keep Rangers out in front of Old Firm rivals Celtic in the SPL title battle.

 

Midfield anchorman â??Jigâ?? and his Gers team-mates have all been delighted to see skilful Norwegian starlet Bendiksen make the big breakthrough into the first team in recent weeks.

 

The 22-year-old has endured a nightmare time with serious injuries since arriving in Scotland four years ago and is only now available for selection.

 

He netted in a midweek friendly match with Bundesliga club SV Hamburg in Germany at the end of last month as his side ended up losing 2-1.

 

Then, Light Blues boss Ally McCoist handed the youngster his first-ever competitive start in the 2-1 win over Dunfermline at Ibrox 11 days ago and he performed well.

 

And, last Saturday, his arrival on the field in the second half sparked a definite upturn in fortunes for Rangers in a difficult league game against Hibs at Easter Road.

 

Operating in the hole just behind lone striker Nikica Jelavic, the former Harstad IL player was involved in both of his teamâ??s strikes in the 2-0 victory.

 

McCulloch, back in the team himself after regaining full fitness, believes those showings are just a taster of what is to come from a lad rated highly by the Murray Park youth coaches.

 

â??Thomas is the kind of player Rangers are crying out for just now,â? said McCulloch. â??He plays off the cuff and that is exactly what we need at the moment. He has obviously got a bright future. He is one of these boys who you can give the ball to who will then go and make something happen.

 

â??That showed with our first goal last Saturday against Hibs. He played a pass with the outside of his foot to Lee Wallace in a dangerous position. We were awarded a penalty and that got us on our way.

 

â??I think he is an off-the-cuff kind of player and that is the sort of individual Rangers are crying out for just now, in my opinion. As long as he keeps his head down, he will get a chance.

 

â??He has had terrible injuries in the past and has spent two of the four years he has been at the club on the sidelines. His kneecap went and that really set him back.

 

â??But he is determined and he is confident, and those qualities have got him to the position where he is now challenging for a first-team place and is very much in the managerâ??s thoughts.

 

â??He is desperate to get a game and I thought he did brilliantly when he started against Dunfermline 10 days ago and when he came on in the second half against Hibs at the weekend. Long may it continue.â?

 

With Steven Naismith out injured for the rest of the season, McCoist is hopeful the youngster can provide his team with a cutting edge in the final third of the park in the second half of the campaign.

 

In stark contrast, the Rangers boss has had few fears at the back thanks to the way new signings Carlos Bocanegra and Dorin Goian have gelled and performed at centre-half together.

 

McCulloch has played in the middle of the rearguard in the past as injury cover, and appreciates how influential the United States and Romanian internationalists have been for his team.

 

The 33-year-old also feels keeper Allan McGregor has once again been outstanding for Rangers as they bid to win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for the fourth season running.

 

The Scotland man had come in for criticism during the last few months for some uncharacteristic blunders in league games against Celtic at Ibrox and Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

 

But neither of McGregorâ??s surprising slip-ups have cost his side the results they were looking for â?? and McCulloch believes his heroics between the sticks have been absolutely vital.

 

Indeed, he produced a typical moment of magic in Edinburgh last weekend when he palmed a dipping Paul Hanlon shot which had been deflected off the outstretched leg of Steven Whittaker over his crossbar.

 

â??Thatâ??s the type of goalie he is,â? McCulloch remarked as he continued preparations for the league game with Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ibrox this Saturday.

 

â??There are so many games where he produces a really important save which ensures that we take home all three points.

 

â??Very often, Greegsy only has one save to make in a game. But, when he makes it, you can see he is a world-class player. The weekend was a case in point. He stopped Hibs coming back into the match.

 

â??It is all credit to him and to his attitude in training and in games. The boys are delighted with the way he has been performing once again this season. Nobody was in the slightest bit bothered by the so-called mistakes he made.

 

â??These things happen from time to goalkeepers, even top players like Allan. Hopefully, he will continue to play in the same vein of form. He has been a huge player for us in the past â?? and he will be again this season.â?

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/there-s-just-no-doubting-thomas-can-be-jewel-in-ally-mccoist-crown-1.1139738

[GovanAllan 0]

We always have someone who steps up to the plate about this time or just after new year when we look like we are going to struggle and things look bleak. That picks the team up by the scruff of its neck and gets us going again, I know it's a lot of pressure to put on the young man but it could just be him.

[ian1964 10,626]

We always have someone who steps up to the plate about this time or just after new year when we look like we are going to struggle and things look bleak. That picks the team up by the scruff of its neck and gets us going again, I know it's a lot of pressure to put on the young man but it could just be him.

 

He is 22,he has missed a lot of football so the hunger should be there,he is looking for a new contract/move,so hopefully he can step up

[der Berliner 3,568]

Actually, we now also have Aluko and with him, Wylde and Bendikson on the park, we should have some speed and creativity that Jela, Lafferty and hopefully another striker (Hemmings) can feed from.

[Guest Dutchy]

Great article, lots of good comments. I just wonder why the feck he didn't start the game on Saturday against a struggling Hibs team?????