Rangers boss Steven Gerrard makes Ryan Kent prediction after impressive return from injury (Image: Getty)
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard insists the best is yet come from Ryan Kent with the winger only “80 or 90 per cent” match-fit despite his impressive return to the first team.
It was only the £7million summer signing’s second start of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury and Gerrard believes there is even more to come from the former Liverpool winger.
“He’s a confident boy,” the Gers head coach said. “You see the tattoos, you see the bowl (haircut).
“Ryan underneath it is just a nice guy. He’s a quite kid, quite reserved. But he’s a great kid, loves a little bit of banter.
“I don’t think the transfer fee has given him any more arrogance or swagger.
“But the transfer fee won’t be on his mind, won’t faze him. You saw it on Thursday night, that’s his stage.
“He’s not ready yet in terms of being 100 per cent match fit and firing and being totally sharp to where we’ve all seen him.
Ryan Kent impressed in Rangers' 1-1 draw at Porto on Thursday night (Image: Getty)
“That’s probably a few weeks away, two or three games away. But if he can perform to that level when still only 80 or 90 per cent sharp then I am really looking forward him over the next couple of years.”
Rangers welcome Motherwell to Ibrox on Sunday afternoon buoyed from their Porto result and hopes his players can replicate the “swagger” they showed at Estadio do Dragao.
“I like players to back themselves, I like swagger in the right way,” Gerrard added.
“My concern for me on Thursday was maybe for certain players or for the few of us it might have been too big for us, that we didn’t have that confidence and belief to back ourselves when we regain the ball.
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“The most pleasing thing for me is looking at the performance individually and collectively, the players believed that was their level.
“And they could reach that level and be more than a match for a good opposition. That’s a real positive to move forward with.
“Ryan will never lack that. It doesn’t matter if Ryan is playing in a friendly match in pre-season or playing in front of 50,000 against a champions team. Ryan Kent will back himself.”
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