Derek Ferguson delivers blunt verdict on Emmanuel Fernandez after Rangers struggles

Derek Ferguson has questioned Emmanuel Fernandez’s performances for Rangers and warned that the defender could become a problem for the Ibrox side when they face Celtic.

Rangers are set to host their Old Firm rivals on September 13 in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final, with Derek McInnes’ side aiming to secure a place in the next round.

However, Ferguson believes Rangers’ defensive weaknesses could make the difference, with Fernandez coming in for particular criticism after a difficult start to the campaign.

The Nigeria international has struggled to convince in recent games, while fellow defenders Olwethu Makhanya and James Penrice have made much stronger impressions since arriving at the club.

Fernandez was also involved in a controversial incident during Rangers’ 1-0 win over St Mirren. He appeared to catch Ismael Kabia inside the penalty area, but referee Don Robertson and VAR Steven McLean did not award a spot-kick.

Although Ferguson admitted he had not watched the incident closely enough himself, he was told that Rangers could have been fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty.

The former Rangers player then questioned whether Fernandez’s challenge was the result of a lack of concentration and used the incident to highlight what he sees as a wider issue with the defender.

Speaking on Open Goal, Ferguson suggested that Fernandez can appear distracted during matches and claimed he is not quick enough in certain situations.

He also compared him with Makhanya, who Ferguson believes has shown the qualities Rangers need from a defender.

Ferguson’s comments will add further pressure on Fernandez ahead of the Old Firm clash, with Rangers facing one of their biggest tests of the season against Celtic.

The question now is whether McInnes will continue to trust Fernandez in such a crucial fixture or consider changing his defensive setup for the derby.