Igamane backed to hit goal trail after Europa League cameo piles more pressure on misfiring Dessers

In the build-up to Thursday’s four-goal Europa League demolition of Steaua Bucharest, Rangers manager Phillipe Clement called on an increasingly disgruntled fanbase to show patience. To trust in the process.

Much of the criticism — and there’s been plenty of it — which has been hurled the Belgian’s way of late has been warranted, but to his credit, he has never wavered in his belief that given time, he will get things right.

Indeed, the former Club Brugge boss certainly can’t be accused of not practising what he so often preaches.

Which is just as well for striker Cyriel Dessers, because while the Nigerian still retains his manager’s trust, it appears to have all but run out amongst the Ibrox faithful.

Given the nod again midweek despite a brutal display against Kilmarnock just four days earlier, the 29-year-old once again looked lost.

Whether it was failing to hold up the ball or simply being brushed off it with minimum fuss, the forward did little right.

The Nigerian continues to receive the backing of Phillipe Clement despite his struggles

Hamza Igamane came off the bench midweek to net his first goal in Rangers colours

Fortunately, his supporting cast stepped up, with an early Tom Lawrence strike and a classy double from the rejuvenated Vaclav Cerny putting his side three goals to the good before he departed the pitch just before the hour mark.

But, in keeping with his display until that point, his withdrawal didn’t go according to plan either, storming down the tunnel of his own volition after suffering an eye injury which reportedly impacted his sight.

It was a bizarre moment to say the least, but it was quickly brushed off by the manager post-match, who revealed an apology came shortly after.

Dessers’ exit proved to be — albeit in unfortunate circumstances — good news for his replacement, Hamza Igamane.

The Moroccan signed a five-year deal at the club back in July, but has yet to make much of an impression. One for the future, so we’ve been told.

Yet his wonderful solo effort which rounded off the scoring on Thursday perhaps showed that he is ready to make an impact ahead of schedule.

Vaclav Cerny grabbed a classy double as he inspired his side to a resounding 4-0 win at Ibrox

Team-mate Nadir Bajrami certainly thinks so, urging the 21-year-old to now kick on and get his Rangers career up and running.

The Albanian, who also singled out his left-side partner Jefte for special praise, said: ‘We were very happy for Hamza because he’s working a lot, even in the training, and finally he scored.

‘I hope he can do this also on Sunday and everyone has to keep going like that.

‘I think Hamza and Jefte can be top players in the next few years, I think if they do good here they have a big future ahead.

‘But they have to work a lot because football is like that.’

He admitted last Sunday’s debacle at Rugby Park wasn’t anywhere near good enough as they fell to a deserved 1-0 defeat to stay six points off Premiership pace setters Celtic and Aberdeen.

But he called on his team-mates to use Thursday’s masterclass as a blueprint for getting their faltering domestic campaign back on track — starting with tomorrow’s home encounter against St Mirren.

Nadim Bajrami played his part in Thursday’s Europa League victory over the Romanians

‘After Sunday we knew we had to show a reaction, not only for us but also for the fans,’ he said.

‘I think not even the fans, the whole team was a little bit angry, so it was very important for us to show the fans that we knew what we had to do and we’ll show it again on Sunday.

‘I think it was a case of going back to basics, as I said before we showed a big reaction, everyone was doing a high press, aggressive.

‘We won the duels and in front of the goal we took our chances, and we have to keep going like this.

‘I think this has to be the standard. But we have to think game by game because we have a lot of games now and everyone has to be ready, every player.’

Bajrami is still finding his feet in Glasgow following his summer switch from Sassuolo, but is already under no illusions as to the pressure he is under to perform for his new club.

The Albanian found it tough against Kilmarnock last weekend but believes side will improve

While it may be considerable step up from what he’s used to in terms of club football, he is no stranger to the big occasion, having been capped 26 times for his country.

His displays during EURO 2024 caught the attention of scouts across the continent, with his goal against Italy in the opener coming after just 23 seconds — the fastest ever recorded at the European Championships.

‘I know about these expectations because I can play under pressure,’ he said.

‘So even when I play with the national team, even here, I have a lot of experience though I’m still young.

‘I think now you play football, you don’t have just one position.

‘So it’s a lot of movement, even with Tom [Lawrence] and Jefte.

‘I find myself really enjoying my football with them, even if I play on the left, so for me it’s okay.’