Cyriel Dessers declares Rangers are READY for Celtic despite 'tough' Champions League reality check

Cyriel Dessers went from agony in Albania to a treat in Texas, all inside the space of four days.

And the frustrated frontman is keeping fingers crossed there will be a similar turnaround in fortunes as Rangers look to shake off their calamitous Champions League exit. It was the lure of UEFA’s brightest lights that drew Dessers to Glasgow. But the £4million signing from Italian side Cremonese and his new side were dazzled and dazed by a club nicknamed the Lightbulbs as the Dutch blazed past the Glasgow side during Wednesday night’s brutal 5-1 dismantling at the Philips Stadion.

Rangers can’t afford to flicker when the spotlight is turned on them again on Sunday, with Celtic due at Ibrox for the first Old Firm contest of the campaign. It’s a clash that could have significant ramifications for Beale and his standing in the eyes of the mortified supporter base who have already had their faith tested with the Light Blues’ opening-day Premiership loss at Kilmarnock.

Beale has dared his players to respond against the Hoops and Dessers is determined to meet the challenge. The Belgian-born Nigeria ace has suffered his own slice of Euro heartache having been part of the Feyenoord team edged out by Jose Mourinho’s Roma side last year.

But from the trauma of that Tirana defeat came the personal pride of netting his first Super Eagles strike in a Stateside friendly clash with Mexico at AT&T Stadium in Arlington only days later. Now he aims to bounce back just as quickly with Gers.

The 28-year-old said: “Obviously Wednesday was really, really disappointing. We came here with a good feeling after last week’s first-leg and after the weekend at Ross County. And to then have this result, I think the score is not right when you look