Cyriel Dessers tipped for Rangers starring role in derby as teammate reveals pep talk during early struggles

Connor Goldson knows the feeling of being an Old Firm matchwinner.

Now he believes it can be the turn of team-mate Cyriel Dessers in a must-win crunch. The Nigeria striker is aiming to get off the derby mark in Glasgow having drawn two blanks since signing. Dessers missed a golden opportunity at Celtic Park having also been snuffed out at Ibrox. However, the 29-year-old has still bagged 18 for the season and has responded superbly to the arrival of boss Philippe Clement by regularly delivering.

Dessers has had to deal with criticism at various stages of the campaign including the aftermath of his Parkhead mishap, but has kept pushing for goals and now has the chance to bag one at a huge time on Sunday. Goldson heaped praise on the striker for proving the doubters wrong and said: “A million per cent. I think you have to give him massive credit for that because I have been here for a long time and I understand how hard it is when you go through bad times.

“For that to happen at the start of his Rangers career? I think a lot of people would have gone under. To be fair to him, he carried on working and working and he is getting goals now. Everyone is happy with him.”

Goldson put an arm around his colleague in the tough times as he explained: “Yeah, I did, I spoke to him. I have said it before, it is the best club in the world to play for when things go well, but it is the hardest club to play for when things don’t. We knew it would turn around at some point and, luckily, not only for him but for the whole team and all the new players, it did.”

Scoring against Celtic would cement Dessers in the hearts of the fans and Goldson continued: “Of course, but at the same time he just needs to keep doing it every single game.

“Like I