Naderi’s two-goal display has intensified competition up front, leaving Miovski at risk of becoming Rangers’ next Cyriel Dessers-style striker.
Rangers produced a dominant performance in their 8-0 victory over Queen’s Park, with new signing Ryan Naderi stealing the headlines on his first start for the club.
The 22-year-old striker scored twice, showcasing the aerial presence, movement and link-up play that Rangers have been missing in recent seasons. Signed for £4.7m on deadline day, Naderi is already beginning to justify his fee.
Danny Rohl’s decision to deploy two forwards paid immediate dividends, but with Premiership fixtures looming, Rangers are likely to revert to a 4-2-3-1 system meaning there will be fierce competition for the lone striker role.
Naderi vs Miovski: A turning point
On current form, Naderi appears poised to win that battle ahead of Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti.
Miovski, who arrived in the summer with high expectations following his prolific spell at Aberdeen, has struggled to replicate that form at Ibrox. Despite scoring ten goals in all competitions this season, only four have come in the Premiership, and several have been against lower-league opposition.
His underlying numbers paint a worrying picture:
- 4 Premiership goals from 13 starts
- 7 big chances missed
- Goal conversion rate: 17%
These figures echo the struggles of Cyriel Dessers during his time at Rangers.
Is Miovski becoming Rangers’ new Dessers?
Dessers, despite scoring 52 goals in 116 appearances, was heavily criticised for his inefficiency. In just two Premiership seasons, he missed 47 big chances and averaged a goal conversion rate of around 16%.
Miovski’s current output mirrors those issues offering limited contribution outside of scoring, with only one assist this season and a low duel success rate of 33%.
Like Dessers, Miovski’s goals have often come in low-pressure moments, masking deeper problems in his all-round game.
Why Naderi changes everything
By contrast, Naderi offers a far more complete forward profile. He can drop deep, link play, attack crosses and press from the front all qualities that suit Rohl’s system.
If the German striker maintains his current trajectory, Miovski’s place in the starting XI and potentially his long-term future at Ibrox looks increasingly uncertain.
The fact Rohl pushed hard to sign Naderi despite already recruiting Miovski and Chermiti over the summer speaks volumes about the manager’s faith in his existing striker options.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
