Rangers manager Philippe Clement heaped praise on Cyriel Dessers after the Nigerian forward delivered a sensational hat-trick in the Light Blues’ 5-0 demolition of Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
Dessers opened the scoring in the first half and doubled his tally just before the hour mark. While he came agonizingly close to a third when his header struck the post, the striker eventually completed his hat-trick in style, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home in the closing minutes.
The 30-year-old’s impressive display came despite being relegated to a bench role in recent weeks due to the emergence of Moroccan forward Hamza Imgane.
Speaking about Dessers’ performance, Clement lauded the striker’s professionalism and resilience.
“It proved his mentality, the way he has been working in the last few weeks when he has played less than before due to the rise of Hamza,” Clement said.
“Cyriel is a very good character in the dressing room who works hard, and he got his reward for all of that hard work.
It’s a competition, but he kept on working, he kept on fighting. That’s why he’s ready to play these games, and to score a hat-trick is fantastic for him.”
However, Clement hinted at uncertainty surrounding Dessers’ future at the club. The Belgian manager acknowledged the striker’s frustration with limited playing time and suggested that a decision could be made in the coming weeks.
“It’s a difficult question, that one,” Clement admitted. “If Cyriel goes, you need to replace him, and it needs to be at least the same quality. If a player stays and he plays less, becomes unhappy, and his level drops, which I don’t fear with him it’s also not good for the club. So, we will see in the next two weeks what happens.
“I know if he’s here, he will give everything for the club. And if he leaves, he needs to be replaced by somebody at least of the same quality.”
Despite the uncertainty, Dessers continues to prove his value. This season, the Nigerian international has contributed 16 goals and five assists in 33 appearances for Rangers, averaging a goal or assist every 110 minutes.
