Saved by Miovski: why McInnes should consider dropping Rangers star

Rangers may have left it until the final moments, but Derek McInnes eventually got the result he needed as his side edged past St Mirren 1-0 on Wednesday night.

The visitors arrived at Ibrox in excellent form and caused Rangers problems during an entertaining first half. However, their promising play was undermined by a lack of composure in the final third.

Rangers were also missing captain Lawrence Shankland through injury, and his absence appeared particularly significant when the home side struggled to find the decisive touch.

Things became even more difficult after the interval. Rangers failed to register a shot on target during most of the second half, before substitute Bojan Miovski finally produced the moment of quality required to settle the contest.

Miovski gives McInnes another selection headache

Miovski appeared to be heading towards the exit door during the closing stages of the transfer window after an underwhelming first season at Rangers.

The former Aberdeen striker scored 13 goals across all competitions in 2025/26, but only seven arrived in the Premiership. His limited involvement towards the end of the window suggested that his future at Ibrox was uncertain.

Circumstances have now changed dramatically.

With Youssef Chermiti ruled out for the season and Shankland currently unavailable, Miovski has suddenly found himself with a route back into McInnes’ plans.

His contribution against St Mirren demonstrated exactly why the Rangers manager may be reluctant to overlook him.

The 27-year-old displayed the instincts of a natural penalty-box striker when he reacted brilliantly to Ryan Naderi’s flick-on before calmly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Jacob Chapman.

It was a finish reminiscent of the goals Miovski regularly scored during his Aberdeen spell — composed, intelligent and clinical.

Rangers had produced 18 attempts, five big chances and an xG of 2.13 during the match, compared with St Mirren’s 10 shots, one big chance and 1.10 xG. Yet it took Miovski’s late intervention to finally turn that pressure into three points.

With the Old Firm derby approaching, the Macedonian’s goal could hardly have arrived at a better time for McInnes.

Why Naderi could be the one to lose his place

While Miovski enhanced his claims, one Rangers forward endured another difficult evening.

Kevin Kelsy’s first start can be viewed with some leniency given that he has only recently arrived from Portland Timbers. The £9m striker still showed flashes of promise, particularly in the air, winning five of his six aerial duels and completing 76% of his passes.

Ryan Naderi, however, has considerably more responsibility to prove himself.

The German has now been at Ibrox for more than six months, yet his performances continue to raise questions about whether he has fully adapted to the demands of Scottish football.

Naderi did play a role in the winning goal with his flick-on for Miovski, but that moment did little to disguise what was otherwise an inconsistent display.

The 23-year-old managed just one key pass and completed only 54% of his passes. His ball retention was also a concern, with possession lost roughly once every 2.4 touches.

For a player operating behind the main striker, that level of inefficiency can be costly.

His physical output was not particularly convincing either. Despite his height, Naderi won only 10 of his 22 duels throughout the match, leaving questions over his ability to impose himself against the physical nature of the Premiership.

His Rangers record currently stands at six goals in 20 appearances, which is hardly a compelling return for a player who cost close to £5m.

There have been moments of promise. Naderi came off the bench to make the difference against Motherwell, while his contribution to Miovski’s goal on Wednesday will also count in his favour.

But those moments have not yet been consistent enough.

McInnes will have been encouraged by what he saw elsewhere in the Rangers attack. Badradine Bouanani caused problems from the right, while Djeidi Gassama provided plenty of energy on the opposite flank despite some questionable decision-making in the final third.

The first-half numbers underlined Rangers’ dominance, with four big chances and 13 shots before the interval. The fact that Chapman repeatedly kept St Mirren in the game made Rangers’ failure to score even more frustrating.

The return of Miovski to the goals now gives McInnes another attacking option at precisely the right time.

With Shankland sidelined, Kelsy still settling in and the Old Firm derby on the horizon, the Rangers boss may need to be ruthless with his selection.

Miovski has given him a reason to consider changing things, and Naderi could ultimately be the man sacrificed.

For now, the German’s assist has bought him some credit, but his wider performance suggests his place in the Rangers starting XI is far from secure.