Daniel is an experienced football journalist and editor at Football FanCast with over a decade of experience covering the EFL, Scottish football and the wider professional game. Since beginning his career in 2015, he has developed extensive expertise in data-led analysis and original football features.  

Daniel began his career at Fresh Press before writing and editing for publications including Read Norwich, Read Celtic and Anfield Watch. Throughout his career, he has interviewed football figures including Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, former striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Since joining Football FanCast, Daniel has contributed as both a writer and editor. His specialist knowledge has also seen him contribute to BBC Norfolk and assist DAZN with commentary research. A Norwich City season-ticket holder, he combines professional reporting experience with first-hand knowledge of the English and Scottish games.

Glasgow Rangers could be at least seven points adrift of first place in the Scottish Premiership heading into the November international break after this weekend.

Their failure to beat Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday night means that Celtic can extend their four-point lead if they win at the weekend, whilst the Light Blues play Aberdeen in the semi-finals of the League Cup, before they both play the following weekend.

Derek McInnes will not have been pleased with the way that his side were unable to secure all three points against his former club, as the Gers were held to a 2-2 draw.

Several players did not step up to the mark against the Jam Tarts on Wednesday, and one of those players was left-sided winger Djeidi Gassama.

Why Rangers must drop Djeidi Gassama

McInnes must drop the Mauritania international from the starting line-up against Aberdeen on Saturday because of how poor his performance against Hearts was.

The former Sheffield Wednesday man was brought into the side so that Badredine Bouanani could have a rest during a three-game week, but the decision to go with him instead of Findlay Curtis turned out to be a mistake.

In 54 minutes on the pitch at Tynecastle, Gassama lost the ball 12 times from 19 touches of the ball and five of those losses of possession came through an unsuccessful touch.

His dire use of the ball meant that he came off the field without any shots or key passes for the Scottish giants, and McInnes must instantly take him out of the line-up after such a wasteful and ineffective display in possession.

Why Rangers need to move on from Gassama

On top of dropping him from the team for the clash with Aberdeen, Rangers should also be thinking about moving on from him on a permanent basis when the January transfer window opens.

Since joining from Sheffield Wednesday for £2.2m in the summer of 2025, the 23-year-old has not developed or improved as a player at the top end of the pitch.

Just like his first season in the Premiership, Gassama is still sometimes creative and lacks a regular threat as a goalscorer for the Scottish giants, scoring one goal in 18 games for club and country this season.

The lack of improvement and his inconsistency at the top end of the pitch are the two main reasons why the Gers should be looking to move on from him in the near future.

How Rangers academy star can end Gassama's Ibrox career

McInnes may not have to push the club to go out and sign a new player in order to sanction an exit for Gassama, though, as the player who can end his Ibrox career may already be on the books.

In the summer, the Light Blues decided to send impressive academy starlet Kyle Glasgow out on loan to Alloa Athletic in the third tier of Scottish football.

The 16-year-old attacker has been a revelation in his first taste of senior football, despite his incredibly young age, scoring five goals in 15 matches in all competitions this season.

Glasgow, who can play on either flank or as a number ten, has scored four goals and provided two assists in 11 appearances in League One for Alloa Athletic.

The 16-year-old talent has already shown that he can be effective in a first-team environment, and has scored more goals in the first three months of the League One campaign than Gassama has scored in the Premiership since the start of last season.

Glasgow has also completed a staggering 40 dribbles in his 11 league games for Alloa, averaging 3.6 per game, which is more than Gassama has averaged in the league for Rangers.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once described him as "the future of Scottish football", should he decide to represent Scotland over Portugal, and it looks hard to argue with that assessment, given his performances at such a young age.

The teenage starlet already looks ready for first-team football, given his form for Alloa, and that is why the Gers should look to recall him to Ibrox in the January window.

Glasgow plays in the two positions that Gassama does, on either flank, and could come back to take the forward's place in the first-team squad, essentially ending the 23-year-old's time at the club, as it would allow Rangers to move him on.

There is no guarantee that the 16-year-old can make the step up to the Premiership, but playing at the top level would be invaluable for his development in the second half of this season.