Sheyi Ojo continues to impress on loan at Rangers after playing an instrumental role in guiding Steven Gerrard’s side to a 2-0 win over Progres Niederkorn.
The 22-year-old switched Anfield for Ibrox Stadium earlier in the summer to seal his second successive season-long loan deal in as many years.
Ojo spent last term with Stade de Reims with mixed results having struggled to hold down a starting position, and with the need to feature regularly to aid in his development a move to Steven Gerrard’s side presented the perfect opportunity to do so.
And it has paid dividends so far after first impressing during both pre-season friendlies and as Rangers kickstarted their 2019/20 season early due to Europa League qualifiers.
Ojo made his competitive debut in the 4-0 win over St Joseph’s early in July and instantly made an impact having found the net with a stunning left-foot finish into the far corner, ensuring Rangers fans were nothing but excited over their newest addition.
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With the first-round tie all but over, Ojo was left out of the squad as Rangers cruised to a 6-0 win to set up a second-round meeting with Luxembourg side Progres Niederkorn.
The 22-year-old started in midfield and thrived having proven to be one of the main catalysts driving Rangers forward throughout their dominant display which readily saw the visitors penned in their own half.
Ojo was first denied a goal in the opening 45 minutes as the offside flag was raised after he was on hand to tap in a rebound, but he didn’t have to wait long to add to his Rangers account as he struck nine minutes into the second half.
He found space on the edge of the penalty area as Rangers set up for a corner, providing him time to set himself before shifting the ball to his right foot and curling a brilliant finish through a crowded box and into the bottom corner:
? A perfect finish from @sheyi_ojo. pic.twitter.com/f8NzP4P9of
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 25, 2019
It was another impressive display from Ojo in a Rangers performance which should have seen Gerrard’s side make the trip to Luxembourg with more than a two-goal advantage after Joe Aribo opened the scoring.
It’s proven to be the perfect start to life at Rangers for Ojo and he will no doubt be eager to replicate his goal to game ratio in the Scottish Premiership, which sees Rangers meet Kilmarnock on August 4.
Speaking to the club’s official website following the game, Ojo voiced his delight at scoring first competitive goal at Ibrox but remained focused on the improvements his side need to make.
“We’ve been working a lot on short corners in training and (Steven) Davis has given me the ball and you know, the gaffer and everyone are always telling me to express myself when I get the ball and I was able to do that and luckily it went in,” he said.
“Obviously scoring in the first game and then again today, I’m just trying to help the team with goals and assists.
“We created so many chances, and we’d like to be a little bit more clinical as a team, but I think that will come as we’re still in preseason.”
?@sheyi_ojo with a perfect finish in front of the Copland. pic.twitter.com/2k4peyjmLC
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 25, 2019
With Rangers’ season still in its infancy and the result all but assured, Ojo was withdrawn from proceedings with 81 minutes on the clock.
Rangers will now meet Championship side Derby County in a pre-season friendly on Sunday before the second-leg meeting with Progres Niederkorn on Thursday.
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