dvocaat’s £1.3m Rangers gem would’ve eased Sima injury woes.

Glasgow Rangers’ form in 2024 has been excellent. The Ibrox team has won all nine games, scoring 24 goals and conceded only four, indicating their championship-winning form.

The Premiership title race remains unpredictable, but Philippe Clement’s team presently holds the advantage.

The Belgian boss has also had to deal without Abdallah Sima, who was undoubtedly one of the Gers’ best performances in the first half of the season.

Abdallah Sima’s injury concerns

The winger joined on a season-long loan last summer as Michael Beale looked to bolster his attacking options after losing Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.

The 22-year-old took longer to make his impression, scoring only twice in the first nine matches of the season. However, an injury to Rabbi Matondo offered him the opportunity to solidify his spot on the left side, which he took.

Sima helped Light Blues advance from the Europa League group stages and win the League Cup from September to January, scoring 13 goals and assisting twice.

Unfortunately, disaster occurred when he was on international service in the recent Africa Cup of Nations competition. Sima sustained a thigh injury, causing Clement to predict a “long-term” absence for the young player and the team as a whole.

The Gers recruited winger Oscar Cortes on loan from RC Lens until the end of the season, and he could soon prove to be a suitable substitute for Sima.

Oscar Cortes could replace Abdallah Sima.

The young Colombian has now made five appearances for the club, and Clement appears to have made an inspired decision in signing him, based on his early performances.

He contributed an assist in his Scottish Cup debut against Ayr United and delivered a standout performance in the second half of a 3-1 win over Ross County.

The 20-year-old replaced Matondo at halftime and spent the second half attempting to make his Ibrox debut.

Cortes had five shots, two missed opportunities, four important passes, and one successful dribble attempt during his 45-minute cameo.

Despite his efforts, he did not score or assist, but his willingness to participate in the majority of their attacks suggested he may play an important role in the title race.

The Gers will need all of its veteran players to take the lead and help the young players in the coming months, especially now that the club is in a true title race.

Imagine if Clement could replace Cortes with a former Rangers wizard on the left wing. Peter Lovenkrands won two league titles in Glasgow over a six-year period.

How much did Rangers pay for Peter Lovenkrands

Following another successful season for the Light Blues in 1999/00, Dick Advocaat looked to add additional quality to his already large squad in order to capture a third league title in a row.

New signings were Kenny Miller, Bert Konterman, and Fernando Ricksen, but it was a little-known Danish attacker who would steal the hearts of the Ibrox faithful over the next few years.

Advocaat paid only £1.3 million for Lovenkrands from Danish side Akademisk Boldklub, a great deal given the club’s previous spending since the Dutchman took over in 1998. Lovenkrands is a promising young player who will only grow.

The Danish winger would go on to repay this money several times over with his goals and performances, helping the club win numerous major titles.

Peter Lovenkrands would prosper under Philippe Clement.

The former Rangers winger was known for using his scorching pace to easily get past opposing defenders, and he was also an outstanding penalty taker, scoring from a variety of locations.

He did not score in his first season in Glasgow, but exploded onto the spotlight during the 2001/02 campaign.

He scored six goals and six assists, but his crucial added-time goal against Celtic in the 2002 Scottish Cup final secured a 3-2 victory for the Light Blues.

Over four seasons, Lovenkrands won five major championships and scored 42 goals for the Gers, establishing himself as one of the country’s top attacking talents.

His ability to switch between a slot on the left wing and a centre-forward allowed him to showcase his abilities throughout the frontline, and his adaptability was undoubtedly his most valuable quality.

Clement would be able to play him over Cyriel Dessers, for example, or replace Cortes out wide while still having a player capable of scoring vital goals.

Alan Shearer, a former Magpie, praised the Danish winger after he joined Newcastle United in the Premier League.

“I know he made a tremendous impression when he initially arrived here, and I thought he started well against Chelsea before getting injured.

“He can play in a variety of positions and has scored several big goals. If we need him, hopefully he can do it again.”

It’s fair to say that Lovenkrands is still fondly regarded at Ibrox, particularly for his goals against Celtic, and the Gers sorely need someone to give them an advantage over their Old Firm opponents, having lost their previous two meetings this season.

In an ideal scenario, the former Danish international would team up with Todd Cantwell and Fabio Silva to form a lethal attack.

Unfortunately, fans of a certain age can only imagine the havoc Lovenkrands would cause to Premiership defences throughout the country this season if he was in his peak.