DANISH legend Brian Laudrup has launched a scathing attack on Ryant Kent after comparing the Ibrox winger to Celtic’s Filipe Jota.
The one-time Govan favourite didn’t hold back when he looked at the contribution of the former Liverpool raider, who cost £7million when Steven Gerrard splashed the cash in 2019, and that of the Hoops’ Portuguese wizard who cost £6.5million when he signed a permanent deal from Benfica in the summer.
Laudrup has a go at Kent, Malik Tillman, on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season, and January recruit Tod Cantwell for their performances in the derby at Parkhead at the weekend.
It was a must-win game for Michael Beale’s side to give them even a remote chance of catching the champions in the title race.
PICK IT OUT…Filipe Jota rolls the third and winning goal past keeper Allan McGregor.
A double from Kyogo Furuhashi and an opportunist strike from Jota gave the hosts a 3-2 triumph to push them 12 points ahead with only seven games to play as they head towards their second successive championship.
Laudrup analysed the trio and said: “Then there is Kent. With his experience, he’s the most frustrating of the lot. We all know he can be a class act at times, but there’s still this funny feeling that he’s missing something.
“You don’t expect him to score 20 or 25 goals a season. But you do need more. And you do have to make comparisons to a player like Jota in a similar role at Celtic.
“The Portuguese has 13 goals and 11 assists across all competitions this season.
“Those are good numbers for a winger. With the ability Kent has, these are the kind of numbers he should be around.
FANFARE…Filipe Jota accepts the applause from the Celtic support after his superb goal.
“But he isn’t anywhere near it. At least, not when it comes to scoring. The Ibrox player has three goals and 10 assists overall. Is it enough?”
Laudrup wasn’t overly impressed by American Tillman or Englishman Cantwell, either.
The one-time Danish international forward, writing in the Daily Mail, added: “While Tillman went into the game in great form after his recent goals, the tempo of derby matches still causes him an issue.
“He’s so laid-back in his approach that sometimes you want to give him a bit of a shake. He’s still very young, let’s not forget that. But he can’t quite connect with the craziness yet.
“It’s a shame because he has got the potential to be a matchwinner for sure. In his favour, Tillman was good in stopping Callum McGregor from building play. That was obviously important.
NO WAY THROUGH…Cameron Carter-Vickers tussles with Ryan Kent for possession.
“Cantwell also got through a power of work in his first Old Firm start, but we didn’t see much incisive passing from him at all.
“Again, I think he was so focused on what he had to do off the ball to help the team.”
The Ibrox side have failed in four derby confrontations this season, losing three and drawing the other.
They will square up to Ange Postecoglou’s champions-elect in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday April 30.
So far, the Parkhead outfit have fired in 11 goals in the four previous matches while conceding five.
