Goss goal cannot hide Rangers’ need for Jack against tenacious midfields

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The new Glasgow Rangers player got on the score sheet but he was overrun in the centre of the park at Ibrox.

For two short minutes, it looked like recent Rangers signing Sean Goss had rescued at least a point for the Gers against Hibernian on Saturday, only for Jamie MacLaren to seal the victory with a 75th-minute penalty.

There was still plenty to admire about Goss’s free-kick, yet that fine strike should not disguise the fact that he was overrun by the Hibs’ midfield, with the QPR loanee and Jason Holt unable to get a foothold on the game.

The absence of Ryan Jack – side-lined with a knee injury – was clear for all to see at Ibrox, with Rangers needing far more fight against the Scottish Premiership’s tenacious teams.

Goss’s ability on the ball means he will work wonders when Rangers need to unlock stubborn defences, but on recent evidence he is not the tough-tackling midfielder Graeme Murty needs to shine in Jack’s absence.

Goss was highly rated at Manchester United and will bring additional quality to this Rangers side. The issue comes when he is tasked with doing the dirty work when he is far better with the ball at his feet.

Rangers fans have now seen that for themselves and it will be interesting to see if he can add more steel to his game while Murty waits for Jack to return.

The latter could be out for the rest of the season and that means the pressure is on Holt to up his game, acting as the tough tackler and potentially pushing Goss further forward as a consequence.