Former Scotland international, Charlie Nicholas, has criticised Super Eagles’ midfielder Joe Aribo’s form for Scottish Premier League side, Rangers, since he arrived from the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, and hopes he steps up again in Rangers’ Europa Cup Round of 16 game against Red Star Belgrade at the Ibrox Stadium on Thursday.
Joe Aribo has been one of the best players in the Gers this season, having netted seven goals and eight assists in all competitions so far.
However, Nicholas believes that Aribo hasn’t had any good performances since he rejoined his club after the AFCON 2021 outing with the Super Eagles.
Nicholas, a former Celtic and Arsenal striker, who currently works as a pundit for Sky Sports wrote in the Daily Express: “Giovanni Van Bronkhorst’s side deservedly won plenty of plaudits for seeing off Borussia Dortmund in the last round.
“They now face Red Star at Ibrox in the first leg and there is no doubt expectation levels have cranked up again.
“I can see Kent and Alfredo Morelos both having an appetite for the game, but I do think it is time Rangers got a performance out of Joe Aribo again because he hasn’t kicked his own backside since returning from the African Cup of Nations in late January.
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“Up to that point,he had been the player of the season, but that is now up for debate.”
Nicholas insists that Rangers need a good performance against the Serbian side at the Ibrox.
He added: “Rangers need to go for it against Red Star and get the home crowd on board.
“The Ibrox fans might believe the Sebians are easier opponents than Borussia Dortmund, but there is no chance Van Bronkhorst and his players will be taking that view.
“Red Star have done well to get this far, having knocked out Cluj before topping a group featuring Midtjylland,Braga and Ludogrets.
“They are a decent team and will be technically good, albeit maybe not as strong as in previous years.”
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