With Rangers facing potential turnover in the striking department this summer, a freshening up of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s forward options seems inevitable.
The rumour mill is yet to kick into overdrive, but it’s been widely reported in recent weeks that the Ibrox club harbour a genuine interest in Scotland and Sunderland striker Ross Stewart.
A product of the Scottish juniors, Stewart was called up to the recent Scotland squad – although failed to make an appearance – after a highly productive goalscoring campaign in League One.
Aerial prowess
Stewart’s 19 non-penalty goals in League One makes him joint-fifth in that metric across all forwards in the division (with at least 1,500 minutes played), with the Scotsman effectively averaging a goal from open play every two and a half games.
Particularly noteworthy is the percentage of headers which Stewart has netted, averaging 0.15 headed goals per 90 in League One this season. With his combination of stature and movement, it’s easy to see why the 25-year-old has profited from crosses to such an extent this term.
His ‘hang time’ in the air allows to generate his own pace on headers, making him a threat in an array of attacking aerial situations.
The example below underlines Stewart’s pedigree attacking the ball in the air.
As the forward positions himself to meet the cross, he creates separation from the two central defenders.
The the cross is ‘stood up’, containing little pace and with very little shape on the delivery to attack the ball.
However, Stewart is able to time his leap early, using the pace generated by hanging in the air to plant an accurate header in off the post.
His intelligence in being able to read attacking situations means he is rarely guilty of overcomplicating his attacking actions.
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Whereas in the above example Stewart is able to generate his own pace on his headed finish, he is also gifted at providing the soft touch on whipped crosses into the penalty box.
Through intelligent positioning and anticipation, Stewart is able to read the flight of the delivery and deliver the deftest of flicks with his head.
Front post movement
In doing so, Stewart creates dilemmas for defenders in League One. While they are keen to make physical contact to avoid the forward being able to get off the ground, he has also shown an ability to make sharp movements to exploit the subsequent space.
This was the most pronounced in Sunderland’s thrilling 3-3 draw at Wycombe earlier this season.
Instead of defending the space, the Wycombe central defender shadows Stewart’s movement in the penalty box.
As a result, this pushes Wycombe’s defensive line deeper.
As the defender is reacting to Stewart’s movement, it allows the forward to make a dart across the front post, in sync with the timing of the delivery…
…Before he provides a lovely cushioned touch to steer the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
Coming in off the sides
Alongside his penalty box instincts, Stewart has showed a continuation of the qualities he displayed at Ross County before his departure in January 2021, proving extremely effective when drifting to the left hand side.
His heat map from league fixtures this season highlights his ability to run the channels as his side attack.
Despite being tall in stature, Stewart has deceptively quick feet, making it difficult for defender’s to control him when he’s moving at pace.
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Whereas the 25-year-old has been deployed predominantly as a No.9 for the Black Cats, he has underlined his ability to play a supporting role.
As Sunderland transition into space, Stewart has peeled off to the left-hand touchline.
As he squares up his opposite marker, he retains close control of the ball.
Stewart is then able to fashion space inside the penalty area, chopping back infield after feigning to shoot across goal.
Before he finishes with aplomb under the goalkeeper.
By showing his effectiveness at coming in off the left-hand side with the ball, it often lends Stewart to scoring with a high volume of ‘guided’ finishes.
Rarely does Stewart lash the ball towards goal in the mould of Alfredo Morelos.
Again, Stewart receives attacking from out-to-in on the left as Sunderland break forward.
With only the goalkeeper to beat, he guides his finish high into the net despite the temptation to shoot across goal with pace.
There has been inevitable comparisons with Cedric Itten in Rangers circles, with both of similar stature.
Stewart’s exploits in League One this season could be likened to Itten’s with St. Gallen in 2019/20, but the Scotsman has proven himself as a lone striker in a system not to dissimilar to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s.
The 25-year-old certainly won’t thrive as a back to goal striker, but his technique is very clean for a big man which makes him capable of exploiting space.
Price dependant, Stewart could prove a shrewd rotation option.
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