If there is one positive to take away from Rangers’ spectacular Scottish Cup defeat at the hands of Queen’s Park, it is that the decision to bring in Lyall Cameron from Dundee now makes a lot more sense.
While many have questioned the midfielder’s arrival – where would Lyall Cameron slot in, with Nico Raskin, Mohamed Diomande, and Connor Barron? – those familiar with the Scotland Under-21 international understand that this is a signing that should add another notch to Rangers’ bow.
None of Philippe Clement’s current midfielders are known for making timely runs into the penalty area. Cameron’s style of running has become synonymous with Dens Park.
His tally of eight goals across 2024/25 is more than that of Raskin, Diomande and Barron put together.
Clement highlighted Cameron’s ‘really good’ goal return when welcoming the 22-year-old to Ibrox last week as well. The thought of a Lyall Cameron – Hamza Igamane pairing is particularly mouth-watering. Igamane’s predilection for dropping deep and drifting wide should, in theory, open up the sort of holes Cameron loves to drive into.
And, as Boyd watched an ineffective Rangers team collapse out of the Scottish Cup at home to second-tier competition, he couldn’t shake the notion that this was a team in desperate need of a footballer with Cameron’s box-crashing abilities.
Rangers’ Queen’s Park upset underlines why they need Lyall Cameron
While he did not identify the new signing by name, the message is clear.
On an afternoon when Igamane was left with very little support and even less service – Kris Boyd chastised the’really bad’ Nedim Bajrami as the Albanian failed to have any form of influence – the Gers needed Cameron’s running strength, goal threat, and forcefulness in the last third.
“If it is a case of going long, then surely you have to have midfielders going up in support of the striker,” Boyd says, and Cameron is exactly the type of midfielder who enjoys doing so.
“Rangers launch it long and then fail to rally players around the striker. “There is no connection with any of their teammates.”
Boyd believes that the individual talent at Clement’s disposal has actually covered for such tactical flaws in the early weeks of 2025. Consider Cyriel Dessers”sensational’ finish against Manchester United. For example, consider Vaclav Cerny and Ianis Hagi’s ability to pull something out of thin air.
“Because there are some talented players, things will happen. You think of Cyriel Dessers at Old Trafford, with his touch out the air and finish. Excellent touch and finish. “Think about some of the great goals Rangers have scored,” Boyd continues.
“Sometimes, you get it. However, the forward players frequently fail to make a connection. Youre hoping can Cerny check inside and do something? Yeah, he can.
“But there’s no connection between the midfielders and the strikers.”
Philippe Clement explains what Rangers like about the Dundee ace.
Clement will be hopeful that Lyall Cameron can repair the problem. Only time will tell whether the Belgian will be present to witness him do it, as pressure mounts on the Rangers manager once more.
“I’m extremely happy. It’s part of our intentions with the club to develop or acquire young Scottish players with potential,” Clement said of Cameron at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“He has the appropriate temperament and is eager to join the club. We had enough conversations with him to make him grasp what Rangers is. And, of course, Scottish players are more familiar with it.
“We’re looking for that kind of character; Not only good players but also players who can cope with what it is to be a Rangers player and to have the right mentality,” the Belgian forward clarifies. “Lyall demonstrated that during the talks.
“The club’s aim is clear: sign more homegrown players. It’s critical that these young players get opportunities to develop at this level, and we want to help and push for that.”
