Former Motherwell boss Graham Alexander believes Kevin van Veen could be the answer to Rangers’ striking woes.
With Alfredo Morelos set to leave Ibrox this summer, Kemar Roofe seemingly injury-prone and Antonio Colak yet to convince Gers boss Michael Beale that he deserves a regular start, Alexander reckons van Veen is a logical target.
The target man has been in the form of his career this season and his 18 league goals have helped hoist ’Well out of the drop zone. The big Dutchman will turn 32 on June 1 but Alexander – who took him to Fir Park from Scunthorpe two years ago – insists he could play for either of the Glasgow giants. Alexander said: “I just assumed that, having seen first-hand what he’s capable of doing, the biggest clubs in Scotland would be interested in signing him last summer. My belief is that he could do a job for Celtic or Rangers
"He’s already scored 22 times for Motherwell this season and they don’t create as many openings as the big guns. Plus Kevin’s the sort of guy who thrives on big games at big grounds. He has a strong belief in what he can bring to a team.
“I think that, because of his build, there’s still a misconception that he’s a battering ram but he also has pace and vision and there isn’t a better technical player in the Premiership. Kevin is a throwback. I’ve always bristled when I hear players described as mavericks because football is a team game but that’s exactly what big Kev is. He does his own thing and what he does very few other players can do.
"He’s a throwback to the 1970s flair players like Frank Worthington, Tony Currie and Alan Hudson. More recently, when Eric Cantona signed for Manchester United, David Beckham and Paul Scholes and that Class of 92 have spoken about how they’d all stay behind after training and practise because that’s what Eric did.
“Kev’s like that. The other players know they have a chance if they can just get the ball to him.”
Anyone seeing van Veen score eight goals in Stuart Kettlewell’s first seven games in charge of Motherwell will wonder why it’s taken him so long to reach the top.
Alexander said: “Kev felt he’d under-achieved in his career, although he’d suffered a bad back injury and has had mental health issues and a gambling problem. He’s found a way through, which he deserves credit for.”
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