Joe Dodoo appears to have won over Pedro Caixinha – but his Rangers future may still be in doubt amid a raft of incomings.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
The starting XI that takes to the field for the opening day of the 2017/18 season may be very different indeed from the one that beat St Johnstone 2-1 on the final day of the previous campaign.
While manager Pedro Caixinha continues to bring in a range of arrivals from domestic rivals and abroad, it appears that a whole host of players will be forced out of Ibrox this summer.
The Daily Record report that first-team regulars like Barrie McKay, Joe Garner and Rob Kiernan will be made available alongside underperforming squad players a la Harry Forrester, Michael O’Halloran and Josh Windass.
Barrie McKay could be forced out
However, the report adds that Joe Dodoo appears to have done enough to convince Caixinha that he is worthy of a second season in Rangers colours. The 21-year-old, who arrived last summer after his contract at Leicester City expired, barely featured under Mark Warburton but his game time increased when Caixinah took over in March.
In fact, nine of his 20 Scottish Premiership appearances came in the final two months of the season as the Portuguese found use for his direct running and pace as an impact sub. That superbly taken goal in a 3-0 win at Aberdeen in March was perhaps the stand-out moment of an otherwise disappointing debut season north of the border.
Joe Dodoo
However, Rangers now appear set to announce the £1.5 million signing of Pumas UNAL striker and Mexican interantional Eduardo Herrera, per the Daily Record. And they have also been linked with wingers Salvador Agra, Dani Candeias in recent weeks.
Therefore, Dodoo looks likely to face even more competition for a place in the starting XI with Caixinha moulding the squad into his image. Therefore, you wonder whether the youngster’s brief resurgence under the new manager was nothing more than a false dawn.
As it stands, a starting berth looks unlikely next season.
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