Sima is obviously not the solution, as Kenny Miller has demonstrated, but Philippe Clement has a conundrum when it comes to Rangers strikers.

Our man speaks as Philippe Clement, the manager of his former club and Ibrox, prepares for a momentous week.

This is a big week for Rangers, and Philippe Clement has a big decision to make over who starts as the primary striker.

My choice would have to be Cyriel Dessers against Real Betis on Thursday, but it doesn’t mean he’ll face Aberdeen in the League Cup Final on Sunday. Listen, Dessers should feel a great sense of confidence after scoring a crucial goal in yesterday’s draw with Dundee.

However, Kemar Roofe is reportedly not yet fit to play meaningful minutes, and Danilo’s injury makes him my choice for Thursday more by default than anything else. Dessers needs to comprehend that he now has the opportunity to secure a spot in the cup final because he owns that shirt. For him, it might present a huge opportunity. Some have hinted that Allah Sima might be assigned as the primary striker. Considering that he plays on the left, his 13 goals from 26 games thus far is an excellent return on investment.

But Sima, on the ninth spot? That line of thinking bothers me. Right now, the Brighton player is using his best offensive position. There isn’t much build-up or hold-up in his job, nor is he a focal point.

That would be a part of the game that needed work if he was ranked nine. He has, however, demonstrated a genuine willingness to sneak in behind opponents, use his strength and speed, and show a burning desire to enter the box and score goals.

He is capable of running past the striker, as evidenced by his goal at Tynecastle on Wednesday. He can see the space coming off the left flank and can make that diagonal run.

He is most effective there, breaking through a defense when the ball is placed in front of him. Thirteen goals is a great number. Why alter that? Compare that to Ryan Kent in the same position. A big thing against Ryan was his numbers – goals and assists. You can’t throw that against Sima.

I would be sticking with him there and going with Dessers or Roofe through the middle against Betis and Aberdeen. If Dessers doesn’t produce the good in Seville on Thursday then it could be time to unleash Roofe at Hampden.

When I played as the main striker in a 4/3/3 I always had good players supporting me, whether that be midfielders like Steven Davis or Barry Ferguson or wider players like Steven Naismith or Nacho Novo. As long as you’ve got players about you, players that will go beyond, that’s what Rangers need. Players to run behind an opposition backline.

Sima does it. They need someone to do it from the number 10 or 8 position too. It’s up to Todd Cantwell not to just always go looking for the ball but look for it through the line – because that’s the hardest run in the game to match. You’re forcing defenders to make decisions and you’re freeing up space for your colleagues.

Rangers need more cohesion in the forward areas and that’s the difference still between them and Celtic. That’s the next stage for Clement. But every time he gets the right players in the right positions someone seems to get injured. It must be infuriating.

Before then he just needs to find a way to come through a massive week with Europa League progress and the first piece of silverware in the bag. The cup final next Sunday HAS to be won. Lifting trophies has to become the norm again.

Before that comes a big game in Spain against Betis which, to be honest, should be more academic than it is. Rangers have an opportunity to top the group with a win. That’s got to be the aim and if they can do that superb.

Craig Gordon facing Hearts wait as Steven Naismith tells him No 1 spot IS Zander Clark’s to lose for now
But they’ve made it hard by drawing with Aris Limassol after losing to them in Cyprus.
The noises pre-Aris a fortnight ago were ‘oh we’ve got European football after Christmas’. It was almost like that was acceptable.

Listen, Rangers should be qualifying in the top two of that group. Particularly after beating the best team in the opening game. If they finish third then I’d view it as a poor Europa League group campaign. Even with that safety net of the Conference League.

Had they taken care of business against Aris last week then they could have rested a few players if needed on Thursday with a cup final just three days later. Now they don’t have that luxury.