Former Ibrox captain Craig Moore has expressed sympathy for Kieran Dowell, acknowledging the challenges the midfielder has faced since his move to Rangers from Norwich City. Moore candidly admitted that he had momentarily forgotten about Dowell due to the player’s prolonged absence from the pitch.
“You know what, and this is terrible, I forgot all about him! That’s a terrible thing to say. But it just goes to show you need a little bit of luck, especially when you move to a new club, to hit the ground running and show them what you can do.”
Football is an unforgiving sport, and Dowell’s initial stint at Rangers has been marred by injuries, hindering his integration into the team. Despite being Rangers’ first signing of the summer window on a free transfer, Dowell has encountered significant challenges in securing a spot in the starting lineup.
With players like Todd Cantwell, Tom Lawrence, and Sam Lammers making their mark in the coveted number ten role, Dowell may be feeling the pressure of potentially being left behind. The midfielder has not featured in a Scottish Premiership fixture since the opening day in August, raising concerns about his ability to make an impact at his new club.
Moore reflects on Dowell’s situation, emphasizing the importance of luck when transitioning to a new club. He highlights the need for players to hit the ground running and showcase their abilities early on, a task made more challenging by Dowell’s injury-hit spell since joining Rangers.
Dowell’s struggles are further highlighted by his limited playing time. Despite starting only three games, two of which were cup fixtures against Airdrie and Morton, Dowell has accumulated a mere 14 minutes of playing time in Scottish Premiership matches over the last four months.