By support

8th Mar, 2018 | 6:00pm

Bob Malcolm: This is why attacker is exactly what Rangers need

Former Ibrox midfielder Bob Malcolm believes Jamie Murphy is exactly what the Gers need after bumping into the attacker on holiday in Tenerife with a Rangers shirt on.

Murphy has been a vital player for the Gers since arriving on loan from Brighton in January but has been struggling with injury in the run up to Sunday’s Old Firm clash.

The winger broke a bone in his foot in the win over St. Johnstone before sitting out last weekend’s Scottish Cup rout of Falkirk but should be fit to face Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Malcolm shared a dressing-room with Murphy at Motherwell and thinks the lifelong Bluenose will be desperate to help the Gers win their first major trophy since 2011.

“I bumped into Jamie and his family on holiday a few years back. It was at the time Rangers were in for him, but he ended up going to Sheffield United,” Malcolm said, as quoted by the Scottish Sun.

“He was actually walking about Tenerife with a Rangers top on!

“Jamie thought the deal to Ibrox was done but at the last minute Sheffield United came in. Now he has got his chance, and hopefully a permanent deal can be sorted for him this summer.

“It doesn’t get any better than being a Rangers fan who gets to play for the club. Jamie has never made any secret of his love for Gers, and that is clear in his performances.

“He is the type of player who would run through brick walls for you, and that is exactly what Rangers need right now.

“He will be desperate to try and get the club back to where they were when he used to sit in the stands and watch them.”

Murphy has scored three times and contributed six assists for the Gers since making his loan move from Brighton in January and is expected to complete a permanent switch to Ibrox in the summer.

The 28-year-old has already been tipped for a place in Alex McLeish’s first Scotland squad following his form at Ibrox after helping the Light Blues close the gap to Scottish Premiership to six points.

Football Insider verdict:

Murphy’s impact at Ibrox cannot be understated and the 28-year-old has been a fantastic bit of business by director of football Mark Allen and Graeme Murty. Although Jason Cummings was more than a capable replacement against Falkirk, Cummings is much more of a central striker than a winger and if Murphy is fit to face Celtic then the former Motherwell star needs to be named in the starting XI – particularly if the Gers need to play Andy Halliday at left-back. With a core of Rangers fans now making up the starting XI, it isn’t a surprise to see performances improve and have that fight they’ve lacked over the last few years.

In other Rangers news, this Arsenal star has claimed he would rather see this Gers fringe player score against Celtic than win the lottery.

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