The return of Ridvan Yilmaz to the Rangers starting XI was certainly a welcome sight against Dundee.
Not that it didn’t receive a few groans from sections of the Rangers support.
As Borna Barisic lined up in the 2-1 defeat to Celtic at the weekend, Ridvan Yilmaz impressed when he came off the bench.
It’s led to some asking why the left-back – whose time at Ibrox has been plagued by injury like much of the team – didn’t start the Old Firm.
Philippe Clement has been methodical in his attempts to curb Rangers’ disastrous run of injuries and part of that involves a structured return for crocked players to the team.
Speaking to the press after the match, Clement confirmed that the plan was always to start Ridvan Yilmaz in this game but the Belgian did somewhat defy his medical staff and buck that trend by keeping the Turkish international on the pitch for an hour.
Clement took Yilmaz Rangers risk
“Medical staff told me maximum 60, they preferred 45,” said Clement when asked why Yilmaz was subbed.
“But I thought in half-time it was important to have him with his qualities also to restart like that.
“And that’s another example. It’s a player coming out of an injury doing good things with the ball but on the first goal he forgets our principles and he forgets the contact in the 16 and we get the goal against.
“But he comes out of injury, so he needs to gain rhythm, he needs to take this lesson again, it will be for sure in his head the next two games, like he did before when he played really good games.
“It’s about learning out of those situations and it was the plan to take him out after 45 or 60.”
Rangers ‘availability’ Turkish star’s issue
It’s clear Ridvan Yilmaz has an ongoing issue and that Rangers need to manage the ex-Besiktas star’s return to the team effectively.
Especially if the Rangers manager wants to call on Ridvan for the Old Firm Scottish Cup Final at Hampden in just over a week’s time.
Rangers signed the defender on a fee which could eventually rise to £5m and like several in the club’s squad the Gers are yet to see proper return on the investment.
There’s talent there – no question – but like the majority of his Rangers teammates it’s not ability that’s the issue, it’s availability.
Going forward Rangers need the left-back fit and firing and whilst Clement might’ve taken a minor risk here, the decision paid off.
Rangers came from 2-0 down in the game and 2-1 at half-time to defeat Dundee 5-2 at Ibrox.
