LEON Balogun’s tender walk around the Ibrox touchline drew grimaces from the entire Rangers support early into Wednesday’s win over Hibs.

The Nigerian’s presence in the heart of defence last Sunday against Hearts was notable and in the early stages of the subsequent midweek tie his aggressive, touch-tight defending helped to retain pressure.

Like Ryan Jack, the leadership and composure brought onto the pitch at Celtic Park just over a week ago calmed a game that Rangers had no control over during a tumultuous opening half. It was a welcome reminder of the form that was key during early points in the season.

It’s important to contextualise the topic with Balogun’s final appearance of 2021 in mind, the 3-1 League Cup semi-final defeat. Against Kevin Nisbet and Martin Boyle on that day the 33-year-old looked lumbered and off the pace as he and his side endured a terrible 45 minutes; Calvin Bassey came on at centre-back 10 minutes from time and stayed there until he himself was found in the middle of a storm.

Certainly in the immediate term, Bassey helped to heal some of the vulnerabilities the defence he stepped into had constantly seen exposed. Starting against Sparta Prague in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first game, the side was on a run of six games in which they’d conceded the first goal. Tactical alterations made by van Bronckhorst produced a more solid foundation in the immediate term and a renewed attacking impetus changed the drab tempo much of the season had been played with. Bassey played his part in the upturn however, his pace on the turn and aggression stepping into midfield are both useful traits.

There were occasions where his distribution was targeted and positionally at times his lack of experience playing in that area became clear. The revisionist opinions that arose after the Old Firm is to be expected, despite the fact that up until Christmas he’d hardly put a foot wrong as an auxiliary centre-back.

Balogun’s introduction and Bassey’s move to left-back against Celtic were largely owing to Borna Barisic’s disastrous opening 45 minutes. The Croatian was applauded onto the field by both his manager and supporters, even earning a rendition of his song which very aptly speaks of him ‘coming and going’. He didn’t play with confidence and now his lack of touch-tight defending has been so glaringly highlighted, he enters each one-v-one under real pressure.

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“He’s one of our players, we support him and the players support him also to get the performances he needs,” van Bronckhorst said post-match, perhaps alluding to the fact that there is no option but to play through a sticky spell.

Because on the surface there appears no other option.

Fil Helander appears likely to get some minutes tomorrow against Annan. Early sightings of Aaron Ramsey have shown that ‘getting minutes’ is an entirely different prospect from being ready to play for 90 minutes, particularly given the Swede hasn’t featured since early September.

Jack Simpson’s only run in the Ibrox team came during a similar injury crisis last season. Given Bassey was preferred to the ex-Bournemouth player in recent months and Simpson has started only one league game this season how realistic is a run of games now?

James Sands was brought to the club to play as a No.6 yet with John Lundstram re-establishing himself and Ryan Jack also returning, game time appears limited in that area of the pitch. Could his versatility lend itself to a stint at centre-back?

As the Rangers Review explained when he joined the club his caps at international level have come in defence and a fair chunk of his minutes for New York City last season arrived in that area.

The current predicament doesn’t reflect well on the inability to bring John Souttar to Ibrox before the summer. Whether the fee Hearts demanded was unrealistic or not the Scottish international would have had no problems adapting to the league or an unfamiliar position, allowing Bassey to continue at left-back while Barisic is bang out of form.

Whatever solution agreed upon it’s more than likely the trip to Borussia Dortmund will be made with a makeshift backline.

While some still hold reservation with Bassey at centre-back, the Englishman has earnt some trust in that area and appears most likely to deputise again. Perhaps it’s the knock-on effects that pull him away from the left-back spot that cause most trepidation at this present time.