Sasa Papac must discover his creative license for Rangers, warns Arthur Numan

Jul 27 2008 By Euan Mclean

ARTHUR NUMAN has praised Sasa Papac for reinventing himself as a successful full-back but fears Rangers will always struggle for creativity when he's in the team.

The former Dutch international was known for lung-bursting overlapping runs down the left flank during his Ibrox career.

But he reckons Papac - who has adapted to left-back since being shifted from his favoured central defensive slot - will never bring that attacking aspect to the team.

Numan believes the absence of an Alan Hutton-like figure able to bomb back and forward is one reason why Gers struggle to create a lot of chances.

He said: "Papac has done really well. In the beginning at Rangers he got criticised but last season he showed a lot of character to grow into the role.

"The most important job was firstly his defensive duties and secondly you must try to run forward on the overlap and make crosses.

"It is important you bring something extra when the team has possession.

"I always tried to makemyopponent run after me instead of the other way around - and most wingers hate to track back.

"But it is difficult to turn Sasa into that overlapping style player because it's not his natural position.

"For me it was different because I'd played as a left winger before Dick Advocaat moved me back.

"Papac is more of a holding player and less skilful so he likes to give the ball to midfielders and let them take it forward.

"Hutton was also criticised and early last season no club would have spent £50,000 on him.

"Then he started to play better knowing Walter Smith had confidence in him and he improved every week.

"But Hutton is a natural at pushing forward and making overlaps. Sasa shouldn't even try to be like Alan.

"Without a full-back who gets forward it is up to the midfield to create chances.

"Rangers are lacking somebody who can deliver the killer pass between defenders to feed the strikers."

Numan, who retired five years ago, played for Clyde against the current Gers team in the midweek friendly that Smith's men won 1-0.

For all their lack of flair though, Numan's concern is at the back where he fears they don't have enough cover for central pair Carlos Cuellar and David Weir.

He said: "They have seven or eight strikers but in defence there isn't that level of cover.

"Last year Cuellar and Weir played a lot of games but this is a different season and you never know what to expect."