O’Neill places Jordan Jones in the Ryan Kent bracket

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Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill believes new Rangers signing Jordan Jones has the potential to electrify at Ibrox – just like Ryan Kent.

The winger signed for Steven Gerrard from Kilmarnock on a pre-contract and will be hoping to earn himself a starting spot, with competition from the likes of Jake Hastie, Sheyi Ojo, Daniel Candeias, Greg Stewart and Jamie Murphy.

It’s a huge chance for the 24-year-old, who has turned his career round after a tricky start.

He was released by Middlesbrough in 2016 and was handed a suspended jail term at the age of 19.

But O’Neill has backed Jones for stardom, and believes he has the flair to lift people out of their seats like former loan star Kent.

He said, as quoted by The Scottish Sun: “I do feel Jordan is ready to make an impact at Rangers. He will get the Rangers fans off their seats. I watched a lot of Rangers last season and I saw how the fans react when Ryan Kent or Daniel Candeias get on the ball. Jordan is a player who brings that excitement.”

TBR’s view

It’s a great endorsement of Jones from O’Neill, and fans will be exciting to see him trying to bring the wow factor.

The Ibrox faithful adored livewire Kent for his ability to be direct, and there remains hope that will be return to the club for a second season.

Should a deal not be possible though, perhaps O’Neill’s assessment of new signing Jones will allow them to relax about the situation in the knowledge they now have a similar player.

That said, Kent scooped the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award for 2018/19, and clearly improves Rangers.