Even Kenny Miller can’t spin it for non-scoring striker Sam Lammers

Even Kenny Miller is struggling to make a case for Sam Lammers.

In midweek the non-scoring striker joined the Micky Beale Revolution with Atalanta delighted to pick up £3.5m on seriously damaged goods, a bit like Schalke 04 when they offloaded Rabbi Matondo last summer.

With shifts at Radio Clyde, Sky Sports, Radio Scotland, Go Radio and the Daily Record Miller is a key messenger, last week on Radio Scotland he explained why Todd Cantwell was in his SPFL Team of the Year.

The former Norwich City starlet teamed up with Nico Raskin as Beale’s brave new look crashed to three defeats in April, twice to Celtic and away to Aberdeen.

Since the season ended Beale has watched Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield and Malik Tillman leave the club. Away from James Tavernier that is 50% of last season’s goal threat walking away.

After signing a goalkeeper that never played a minute last season, Jack Butland, two injured Championship utility men have joined the Revolution.

Lammers has scored six goals out on loan over the last three seasons but applying blind faith Miller tells Daily Record readers how every little thing is going to be all right:

Lammers has a lot to live up to. And let’s be brutally honest, his goalscoring record so far doesn’t stand up. It’s nothing to write home about. He has scored six goals in three seasons, which isn’t great.

There’s no getting away from it. He hasn’t had a lot of starts but that’s also a concern. Why is that? Ultimately, when you’ve had 34 appearances in a season and scored two goals, it’s not good enough.

But here’s the thing. I trust Beale. I trust the work he has done so far at Rangers. He has made two terrific signings already in Todd Cantwell and Nico Raskin. For me, if Lammers has been signed for more than £3million he should be starting for Rangers. But I also believe there will be another striker coming in. There’s no doubt it’s a priority position for the club.

So maybe Lammers will have to fight for his place with one or two others. When you look at his stats and numbers, I understand Rangers fans’ doubts. I’m asking the same questions as they are.

He has been at his most prolific in the Dutch league with Heerenveen but players have scored in Holland then struggled in other countries. So I get why Rangers supporters are asking, why wasn’t he starting at Sampdoria, Empoli or Eintracht Frankfurt?

But I would urge them to have faith in Michael. If he feels Lammers can have a positive impact on this Rangers team, trust him.

And until I see Lammers in the flesh at Ibrox, I’ll reserve judgment on whether he’s going to be up to the job. Of course, you can get strikers who don’t get a lot of goals but add real value to the team. It’s possible. But let’s be clear, Rangers need a goalscorer.

No transfer fees have been brought in since the season ended. Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Ben Davies and Glen Kamara are still on the payroll.

If no offers come in Beale will have to become very creative to add to the squad that failed spectacularly last season.