considerably though traveling to Easter Road to play Hibs is never easy, the game took on considerably more significance because it was scheduled right between a Europa League last-16 meeting against Benfica.
To their astonishment, Philippe Clement stuck with the same starting lineup for the cup match that appeared to be lost a few days before, but it worked wonders as they entered the half with a goal thanks to John Lundstram.
The Light Blues had a polished performance, and John Lundstram was once again the driving force behind all that went well during the match.
Hibernian vs. John Lundstram in numerical terms
Lundstram had exhausted himself towards the conclusion of the Benfica match, and it appeared that Clement would be best served taking a well-earned break against Hibs.
Not a chance. Lundstram made his debut in the nation’s capital and went on to win man-of-the-match honors, including first goal scoring.
Instead of being exhausted during the final moments of the midweek match, the midfield player appeared to have relished a week off. He was a steady presence in the middle of the midfield.
He has undoubtedly been among the more reliable players under Clement’s leadership so far, missing just one game since mid-October. He does enjoy getting forward occasionally, as evidenced by his two goals and six assists in 2023–24; nevertheless, his best quality may be his ability to control play from the middle of the pitch while still protecting the defense.
Upon Lundstram’s departure from Rangers
Few would have anticipated a year ago that Lundstram would be among the team’s most crucial players, but that is exactly what has happened.
The 30-year-old has one year remaining on his current deal heading into the 2023–2024 season, and it didn’t seem like he would get an extension.
Even if Lundstram might not remain at the top for very long, he still has a lot to offer and might impart his wisdom and expertise to the young people coming through the youth school.
At Ibrox, Lundstram’s academy heir
One of the B team’s greatest players, Cole McKinnon, has the potential to succeed English midfielder Jamie Neal in the years to come.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst rested a number of first-team players for the upcoming Europa League final in the Premiership match against Hearts, giving several academy youngsters their chance.
With barely thirty minutes remaining, McKinnon entered the game off the bench and made an immediate impression by scoring the third goal to seal a 3-1 victory. His skill level was clearly impressive.
For the 2022–2023 season, the young player was loaned to Partick Thistle, a team in the second division, for the entire season. It is obvious that the young player has benefited from having regular first-team games at a competitive level.
The 21-year-old made 31 appearances for the Jags during that campaign, helping the team come dangerously close to earning promotion to the top flight with three goals and three assists.
During the early part of the season, Michael Beale named him multiple times as part of the matchday squad, but he never saw the field.
However, Clement appears to be the ideal manager for him to work under, as the Belgian has recently given him a few chances in the senior team.
Cole McKinnon’s statistics against Hibs and Benfica
Jordan Campbell praised the 19-year-old midfield player before he signed with Partick Thistle last season, claiming that he was highly valued at Ibrox and had scored in the season’s final league game. Moves from box to box and have a talent for scoring.
Similar to Lundstram, the Scot rushes forward to potentially join the attack, but he can also play a slightly deeper role when needed, which will be advantageous to Clement.
Last week, in the closing 13 minutes of the match against Benfica, he came off the bench, but he remained composed despite the situation.
He did, in fact, win all of his aerial duels while making an interception and blocking a shot, demonstrating that he possesses the necessary mindset to enter a game that is in the balance and remain composed.
After receiving a second ten-minute cameo against Hibs, he resumed his solid play. With the games coming up quickly over the next few weeks, this may provide Clement with another choice in the middle of the midfield.
The fact that McKinnon is now reaping the benefits of his recent hard work with the B team should serve as a reminder to young people that opportunities exist, particularly for those who are dedicated and diligent in their effort.
Lundstram might be able to play at the best level for a few more years, but if McKinnon can continue to pick up significant playing time on a regular basis, the 21-year-old might replace the Englishman perfectly and save Clement a ton of money on transfers.
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