Barry Ferguson’s u-turn as he slams TikTok Cantwell

Back in May Barry Ferguson was drooling over the swagger being shown by Todd Cantwell, he loved how it was apparently getting under the skin of opposing fans.

Unfortunately for the former Norwich starlet it seems that Philippe Clement is less easy to impress.

With the Dead Rubber trophy secured Cantwell could do no wrong in Ferguson’s eyes, Ryan Kent was history and although that is a particularly low benchmark.

Despite losing to Celtic in three different competitions Ferguson saw hope for the future with a team build around the Barbie lookalike that Micky Beale put is faith in.

To the surprise of no-one outside of Ibrox the magic dust has already dried up for Cantwell, when Sam Lammers is getting played in your favoured position it really is time to take stock.

After Thursday’s substitution, the slow walk off the park and the petted lip it looks like Beale’s star signing is about to become surplus to requirements for the latest Revolution.

Sunday’s team news has only one issue to look out for, has Clement clamped down on Cantwell or caved in to the player who Ferguson couldn’t see past just a few months ago.

Cantwell is now showing that he is every bit as willing to go back the way as well as forward. But it’s in the final third where he is emerging a real game changer – a player who can create chances and take them when they come his way.

Let’s not forget either it was only a couple of years ago that a number of Premiership clubs were being linked with him at around the £40m price mark. He was even knocking on the door of the England squad.

If anything, his credentials were better than Kent’s were at that time so it does seem as if Beale knew all along that Cantwell could comfortably take on that kind of mantle. Things stalled a bit for Cantwell at Norwich but these things can happen.

Sometimes a player just needs a fresh start and a new challenge and he looks as if he’s thriving on the pressure of wearing that blue shirt. He’s also getting under people’s skin and that’s another thing I’m fully in favour of.

OK, when he first arrived I was a little bit worried that he might be saying a bit too much for his own good. But now he’s doing his talking on the pitch as well and playing with a confident swagger. That annoys some people but I love to see it.

Opposing fans have only been laughing at TikTok and the adulation he gets from the Ibrox cheerleaders.