{"id":261397,"date":"2026-09-07T07:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T07:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/07\/how-mcinnes-can-unearth-the-next-joe-aribo-at-rangers\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T07:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T07:10:11","slug":"how-mcinnes-can-unearth-the-next-joe-aribo-at-rangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/07\/how-mcinnes-can-unearth-the-next-joe-aribo-at-rangers\/","title":{"rendered":"How McInnes can unearth the next Joe Aribo at Rangers"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Glasgow Rangers<\/a> have got their season back on track after three successive victories in the Scottish Premiership<\/a> under new manager Derek McInnes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Light Blues beat Motherwell 1-0 at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon in their most recent game in the division, thanks to a goal from substitute Ryan Naderi.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n <\/picture>Reuters\/Jason Cairnduff<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

A potentially significant hamstring injury to club captain Lawrence Shankland after eight minutes is a concern for the Gers, though, as he now faces a spell on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

Naderi came on to replace him and scored four minutes later, tackling the goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net, but there is a concern about where the goals will come from.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n The big concern building up for Rangers<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Five games into the campaign, Rangers rank eighth in the Premiership for goals scored. They have only found the back of the net six times in five matches after their 1-0 win over Motherwell.<\/p>\n

Chance creation has not been a major problem for the Light Blues, though, as they have created 14 ‘big chances’ and 11.28 xG, yet have only produced six goals and 8.85 xG on target.<\/p>\n

Essentially, too many of the team’s players have not made enough of the opportunities that have been created for them, such as Min-su Kim’s penalty miss on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Rangers league goals this season<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goal<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Vs St Mirren<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ryan Naderi<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Vs Falkirk<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lawrence Shankland<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Vs Falkirk<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lawrence Shankland<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Vs Aberdeen<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lawrence Shankland<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Vs Hibernian<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ryan Naderi<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Vs Dundee United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Thelo Aasgaard<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Thelo Aasgaard, who left to sign for Anderlecht on loan at the end of the window, is the only non-centre-forward to have scored a goal for the club in the league, which is a big concern.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"thelo-aasgaard-rangers-dundee-united\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Russell Cheyne<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

When the Gers last won the title, in the 2020\/21 campaign, Steven Gerrard had central midfielders who contributed with goals, as Joe Aribo (11) and Ianis Hagi (18) both hit double figures for goals and assists combined.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Rangers can unearth their next version of Joe Aribo<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Aribo, in particular, was a reliable goalscoring midfielder for the Light Blues throughout his time at Ibrox, scoring 26 goals and providing 25 assists in 149 appearances before his \u00a36m move<\/a> to Southampton in 2022.<\/p>\n

The left-footed star was a well-rounded midfielder who offered physicality, work rate, goals, and assists, and McInnes does not have a player in his current squad who is offering all of those things in the middle of the park.<\/p>\n

However, there is a young player out on loan who could return to Ibrox next year as the Scottish manager’s own version of Aribo if he continues to develop.<\/p>\n

Paul Nsio, who has been with the club’s academy for over four years, joined St Mirren on a season-long loan over the summer and has hit the ground running in the top-flight.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"paul-nsio-tavernier-rangers\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The 20-year-old talent, who has played three first-team matches for Rangers so far, spent the 2025\/26 campaign on loan at Raith Rovers and chipped in with three goals in 31 games in his first taste of regular senior football.<\/p>\n

He has started all five of St Mirren’s matches in the Premiership this season and shown that he is already ready to excel technically and physically in the top-flight.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

26\/27 Premiership<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Paul Nsio<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Appearances<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Chances created<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Successful dribbles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tackles + interceptions<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Duels won<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

36<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ball recoveries<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

37<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Nsio currently ranks joint-first in the league for tackles won and seventh for duels won among all players, which speaks to how effective he has been out of possession.<\/p>\n

The English midfielder has also offered quality in possession, though, with one goal, four chances created, and eight successful dribbles, ranking fifth in the division for dribbles completed.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Rangers\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Russell Cheyne<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

There could also be more to come from him as a creative outlet for the Saints because he delivered one goal and four assists in nine matches for the Rangers B team at youth level, showing that he has the potential to be a scorer and a creator of goals.<\/p>\n

The biggest test for young players coming out of academy football is how they deal with the physicality and intensity of the Premiership, but Nsio has already passed that test with flying colours with the way that he has settled in at St Mirren.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"joe-aribo-rangers-goal\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Rangers may now already be thinking about whether or not they can recall him in January to bolster their midfield ranks because he could be the Aribo-esque player that McInnes is currently missing in the middle of the park.<\/p>\n

Nsio has the technical and physical attributes to be an outstanding performer for the Gers, which is why journalist Alan Nixon claimed that he will be a “\u00a310 million player in a year<\/a>” after watching him play for St Mirren last month.<\/p>\n

It is now down to the Ibrox academy graduate to continue to perform for the Saints and to show McInnes that he has a real future in Glasgow heading into 2027.<\/p>\n