Richard Foster feels Cedric Itten will have a ‘point to prove’ at Rangers under Giovanni van Bronckhorst after scoring against Stirling Albion, talking on BBC Sportsound (21/1, 21:46).
Van Bronckhorst recalled the forward to Ibrox halfway through a season-long loan transfer with Greuther Furth earlier this month. His return to Glasgow then freed Jermain Defoe to leave the Gers. He had failed to break into the line-up with just two appearances all season.
Steven Gerrard had shipped Itten out on loan last August after enduring an underwhelming debut season with Rangers. The £3m arrival from St Gallen struck just six goals and three assists in 40 outings in 2020/21. He also only started nine of his outings for 1,185-minutes.
Itten’s second campaign in Glasgow did not get off to a great start, either, before moving to Germany. He failed to score over five appearances and only struck twice in 12 games for the Kleeblatter, too. Yet the 25-year-old has a one-in-two record under Van Bronckhorst.
Itten gave Van Bronckhorst striker questions with Rangers cup goal
Van Bronckhorst introduced Itten as an 89th-minute substitute at Aberdeen on Tuesday for his first appearance back at Rangers. But awarded the Switzerland striker his true return on Friday night, with a starting role for the Gers’ Scottish Cup win at home to Stirling Albion.
Itten found the net in the 59th-minute to stretch Rangers’ lead to 3-0, after Alex Lowry and James Tavernier scored. He also forced Blair Currie into an early save, which replays could not determine if the ball had crossed the line. Fashion Sakala would strike Rangers’ fourth.
Now, former Rangers defender Foster feels Itten gave Van Bronckhorst a question over his striker selection. But the BBC pundit still expects Kemar Roofe to get the nod instead.
“Itten got his goal and it was a decent enough little finish,” Foster said. “He’ll have a point to prove. He can say to the manager now that while [Alfredo] Morelos is away, ‘why not use me?’ But I still think Roofe is ahead of him.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
