' CARDIFF CITY LOAN PLAYER CAN BE A STAR '
Cardiff City youngster Declan John impressing Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha during loan spell
' Declan John can be Rangers star man '
Thursday 5th October 2017
Cardiff City youngster Declan John is already impressing at Ibrox after joining on loan late in the summer transfer window.
John struggled for game-time in South Wales after being thrust in and out of first-team plans following his debut back in 2013, in the Premier League.
However, he has the perfect opportunity to prove himself with Scottish premier League giants Rangers during his most recent loan spell, an opportunity he is relishing.
He may not be needed at Cardiff City, but Rangers are already seeing the 22-year-old as a key player following his brace last time out.
On just his third appearance for Rangers, he managed to net twice from left-back as Caixinha’s men defeated Hamilton 4-1 away from home.
John’s brace – his first and second career goals – immediately placed him into the hearts of the Ibrox faithful, and indeed manager Pedro Caixinha, who believes the Welshman can make a big impact while in Glasgow.
The Portuguese boss told Rangers TV: “Declan is a player that was never coached how to play as a left back, so he did it a couple of times with us and he did it very well, because we are a team that likes to attack and likes to have the full-backs go up and attack, so he can give us that.
“We will try to coach him a little bit more now, not only to defend the wide area but the relation with the winger in front of him, the midfielder on his side and also the centre-half from his side.
“He needs to know those relations and which space he needs to cover when he is defending, but he is also a player who can play as a winger.
“He can provide us with those sort of approaches on the game and even for example if in one special game, at any stage of the game, we need to play with three on the back, he can be the one that is full-back and winger at the same time.
John didn’t manage a single goal for the Bluebirds during his 42 league appearances, but supporters will certainly be pleased to see him doing well elsewhere.
Opinion has been split on the full-back for some time in South Wales, but given that he was once Cardiff’s ‘next big thing’ there’s still a hope that he can make a success of his career.
A career that could yet be at the Cardiff City Stadium, but it will most likely be spent elsewhere with the season-long loan taking him to the end of his current contract.
John is a Welsh international, having represented his country at senior level on two occasions, but he hasn’t been called up since 2013 and he is hoping to get back into international football as soon as possible.
Scottish football could be his route, especially given the form he has already shown for Rangers in his first three games.
And Pedro Caixinha still believes there’s more to come, hoping he can be coached into the perfect full-back during his time at Ibrox.
“Declan is growing in that position, now we need to coach him how to defend in that position because, as you see, getting in attack and being involved by the overlaps or underlaps or getting on the box, crosses delivered and even scoring goals, he’s doing it.
“Now we need to work on the other parts to have a balanced player as well.”
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