Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers need a big few months from Daniel Candeias.
Graeme Murty has told Rangers TV he is optimistic that Daniel Candeias could be a big player in the second half of this season after his goal on Sunday.
The Portuguese winger opened the scoring in the 2-1 win away to Ross County for what was only his third goal in 23 Premiership games since joining from Benfica last summer.
Candeias, signed for £700,000 (Scottish Herald) by Murty’s predecessor Pedro Caixinha, has eight assists in all competitions but the lack of goals was a concern.
But the Rangers boss reveals that he has been asking the 29-year-old to improve in this regard lately and believes that, with a bit more self belief, Candeias could have a great last few months of the season.
He told RangersTV: “We have been asking him to score more goals and to get in the box more. He hit a fantastic strike and I am really pleased for him as he works so hard for the team.
“It’s nice for him to get a bit of individual recognition as well. I do think at times we can use him more and use his attributes more, and actually exploit his pace as he is really, really quick. We just need to get him to believe in himself as much as we do.
“If we can do that, he can be a real, positive find for us for the second half of the season.”
Speculation about a move for Jordan Jones is bound to get Candeias playing well again.
Rangers have already signed a left-sided winger in Jamie Murphy, who joined on loan from Brighton, and a successful move for Jones would surely mean that Candeias must settle for a spot on the bench.
But it’s been a good reaction from Candeias and more of the same should lessen the importance of signing someone like the Kilmarnock winger.
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