Tom Lawrence is unique Rangers difference maker as Ceri Bowley laments Gio van Bronckhorst sliding doors moment

Ceri Bowley never got to see Tom Lawrence become the difference-maker he believed his fellow Welshman could be for Gio van Bronckhorst’s Rangers. But the former Gers coach remains confident the fit-again playmaker can still make a major Ibrox impact for Philippe Clement

Today marks the first anniversary of van Bronckhorst’s sacking. And his former right-hand man Bowley looks back on the season-ending injury suffered by Lawrence as a sliding-doors moment, a blow which contributed to the chain of events that ultimately led to the Dutchman being ushered out the Edmiston Drive exit.

What was first thought to have been an innocuous bump to the former Derby skipper’s knee during a clash with Ross County just a month into the season turned out to be far more serious. With the versatile playmaker’s debut campaign in Glasgow cruelly cut short just as he was getting into his stride, GVB's team were denied the use of a skillset Bowley believes few others at Ibrox could provide at that time.

And with further injuries mounting up, van Bronckhorst’s rollercoaster Rangers reign soon came off the tracks as the man who had led the club on their Europa League adventure was sacked just six months after that brush with glory in Seville as humiliation in the Champions League was followed by a faltering Premiership push.

But with Lawrence at last back in action for Clement’s side, former City Group coaching guru Bowley expects to see his compatriot finally fulfil the role he always envisioned him performing for Gio’s team.

“Tom's qualities are different,” Bowley told Record Sport. "From travelling with the ball to picking passes, receiving in tight areas, scoring goals, assisting, running in behind - Tom has a range of abilities that others