Todd Cantwell fits the bill to be the new hero the Rangers fans need.
That's the verdict of former Light Blues striker Kenny Miller who heaped huge praise on the former Norwich City man for his derby day display against Celtic. The midfielder opened the scoring after just five minutes as he followed in John Lundstram's effort to fire low beyond Joe Hart after he initially pushed away the first attempt.
That lifted the January recruit as he put in a man of the match display for Michael Beale as the new management team got a first victory over Celtic and Ange Postecoglou at the fifth attempt. Miller reckons Cantwell is thriving on pulling on the blue jersey in front of the passionate Ibrox support and he can establish himself as the 'poster boy' for the big changes on the way this summer.
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Cantwell was labelled 'outstanding' alongside Nicolas Raskin with Miller believing fans can get 'excited' if Beale's first two recruits are anything to go by. Writing in his Daily Record column the pundit said: "Todd Cantwell looks as if he’s enjoying himself as a Rangers player. And after yesterday’s man-of-the-match performance against Celtic - I really hope the novelty of it doesn’t wear off any time soon.
"Pulling on that blue jersey and playing in front of those Ibrox fans should never be taken for granted. And Cantwell looks as if he’s thriving on it. If he keeps performing like that, he can be the poster boy for the big changes Michael Beale is going to make at Rangers this summer.
"He’s been playing well for a while now. And he’s getting better with every game. But in a convincing Old Firm win for Rangers yesterday, he was outstanding beside another January recruit, Nico Raskin. And I’ll tell you something. If Beale’s first two signings are anything to go by ahead of the next window, Rangers fans can start getting excited. If he can get more in the door like those two, they will be so much stronger than they’ve been this season.
"It was a brilliant performance from Cantwell from start to finish in the 3-0 win. And he was the catalyst for so much of the good stuff Rangers did. In any good move, he seems to be involved at some stage of it. Off the ball, he’s also pivotal to how Michael wants his team to play.
"His contribution was superb yesterday when Rangers weren’t in possession, in terms of his tracking back and turning Celtic over. He hustled their players into mistake with his pressing and breaking up of their play.
"If he hits the ground, he gets back up and he’s at them straight away. Cantwell took the game to Celtic and that’s what’s been missing at Ibrox for a while now. That’s the type of performance Rangers need from their big players.
"He fully deserved his standing ovation from the supporters when he came off. They need a new hero and Cantwell looks like he fits the bill. This Rangers team needs freshness and he provides that with his energy and desire."
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