Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers made a stunning return to the starting lineup, scoring and providing an assist in the Scottish club’s 3-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round at Ibrox on Tuesday night.
Making his first competitive start of the season, the Nigerian international set up Djeidi Gassama’s opener in the 14th minute before calmly converting a penalty just before halftime to double Rangers’ lead.
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Gassama sealed the win early in the second half with a well-taken header from an Oliver Antman cross.
Rangers manager Russell Martin praised Cyriel Dessers for his performance and revealed why the 30-year-old had been limited to substitute appearances earlier in the campaign.
“We haven’t been able to play Cyriel from the start yet because he played one game against Middlesbrough and got a bit of an injury, so we’ve been managing him back to get him on the pitch. He did great tonight,” Martin told Rangers’ official website.
Martin also highlighted the striker’s off-the-ball work, saying:
“We scored some real quality goals tonight. Cyriel Dessersl did a brilliant job attracting players so others could run in-behind, and he took the ball in well.”
Cyriel Dessers, Rangers’ top scorer last season, has attracted transfer interest from Greek champions AEK Athens, with reports suggesting Rangers are seeking around €5 million for his services.
Despite the speculation, the Super Eagles forward delivered a focused and decisive display that strengthens Rangers’ push for Champions League group stage qualification.
With less than a month left before the summer transfer window closes, Martin will be keen to resolve Dessers’ future as he continues his rebuilding project at Ibrox.
