Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has highlighted a significant problem involving striker Ryan Naderi following the frustrating 2-2 draw against Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday, 17 October.

Dundee brought Rangers‘ seven-game winning streak across all competitions to an end at the weekend, holding Derek McInnes’ men to a 2-2 draw. The result was so disappointing for the Ibrox faithful that the dust is yet to settle, with fallout from the game rolling onto Wednesday, 21 October.

Gers manager McInnes opted for a major tactical reshuffle in Dundee, dropping Kevin Kelsy to the bench to accommodate summer arrival Badredine Bouanani alongside Djeidi Gassama on the wings. The managerial decision shifted Naderi into a lone central striker role, with Minsu Kim tasked with operating directly behind him in the advanced playmaker position.

However, despite stunning individual goals from Nicolas Raskin and Bouanani, the reshaped frontline failed to secure all three points as defensive frailties allowed Steven Pressley’s side to snatch a point.

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Barry Ferguson wants Kevin Kelsy and Ryan Naderi to play together for Rangers

Analysing the performance on the 5 Stars Podcast (Tuesday, 20 October), Ferguson pinpointed that Naderi struggled immensely with the dynamic, pointing out that the forward cut a lonely figure without his usual strike partner alongside him.

He said: “I thought he [Naderi] went isolated. I don’t think Minsu Kim was getting close enough to him. I just think Naderi looks a lot more comfortable with a partner beside him. Look, he can play that lone striker, but I think he looks more comfortable with a guy beside him. And they two [Kelsy and Naderi], they’ve built a brilliant relationship.”

Ferguson conceded that while McInnes had clear tactical motives for changing the shape against Dundee, restoring the proven attacking framework will be essential when St Johnstone visit Ibrox on Saturday, 24 October, echoing the sentiments shared by Ian Durrant on the same podcast episode.

The Ibrox hero continued: “They’ve looked really good, have scored goals, but at the end of the day, Derek’s obviously sat down and watched Dundee and thought Bouanani was the right choice. I like the two up top. I think they will cause so many defences problems.”

Ferguson’s tactical assessment aligns directly with comments made by former Rangers midfielder Durrant, with both club icons urging McInnes to reunite Kelsy and Naderi in tandem for the upcoming Premiership clash in Glasgow. With pressure mounting on the Light Blues to deliver a decisive response at home, all eyes will be on McInnes’ team sheet on Saturday to see whether he returns to the two-man attack that served Rangers so efficiently in earlier outings.