With Rangers having a bit of a mild squad crisis at present (more on that later) having quality deputies who can fill in has become more and more paramount.
Another clean sheet was of course recorded on Saturday and the team is looking very, very good, despite its war wounded.
But the most standout aspect of the whole match was Scott Arfield’s stunning cameo on 60 minutes which included a goal and an assist plus a deeply overall dangerous attacking display as he replaced the stricken Alfredo Morelos.
Arfield had a point to make. Nothing to prove, of course, but a point to make.
The Canada international has been a fringe player this season, taken with total dignity and he’s just got on with it.
And while his sub outings recently have been decent, they’ve not stood out especially remarkably. Not, that is, until Saturday.
Arfield managed an incredible five shots, with three of them on target. He nailed two key passes, and his passing average was a perfect 21 attempted and 21 made, with 100% total. He pitched one long pass, and it hit its target while even defensively he chipped in with a tackle and a clearance.
In short, Scott Arfield delivered the perfect sub cameo, and his audition for a starting place in Gibraltar couldn’t have gone better.
And he’s given his manager a real option.
Arfield will certainly start this midweek, given Brandon Barker is stricken and Ryan Jack is likewise, and whether he’s next to Steven Davis or Glen Kamara or sitting behind whatever striker is chosen, his likelihood of a place in the XI is nearly assured.
Kent and Hagi will start, with the latter finding some form at a good time, and there’s one more slot behind the front man, who will almost certainly be Roofe – and that place is likely to go to Scotty.
Stevie knows what he’ll get from his stormtrooper – Arfield will never let this club down and is a truly excellent player who can consider himself very unlucky to have only been a fringe player this campaign.
Rather nice to know you can call on an international captain as a ‘reserve’ player.