Ibrox View: Gerrard must not give up on struggling Rangers talent despite disastrous 19/20
RANGERS OPINION
This season has been a tough one for Rangers loanee Glenn Middleton to say the very least.
The 20-year-old winger has been shipped out on two separate loan deals, but has massed just nine appearances across those stints.
Initially came a failed spell with Scottish Premiership side Hibernian, where he struggled to make his mark and was ultimately recalled after just six outings.
Then, in January, there was another effort to find him regular first team action when he was sent out to English League Two side Bradford City, on for him to register just the three outings thus far.
At the very least, however, the youngster is self-aware, and is trying to seek the positives out of his unfortunate predicament.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, he said: “I’ve been on two loans this season and although at times it might not have been smooth sailing for me, I’ve definitely learned a lot.
“I’m desperate to really put my mark down and show everyone what I’m capable of on a football pitch
“I’m still learning, I’m still young, but at the same time I’m desperate to play football – but that’s up to me, I need to put in the performances to show the manager so that he can trust me to do so.
“I’ve got high expectations of myself, which is why you play for big clubs who have high expectations of their players and it’s down to me to put performances on every week.”
And while it is admirable that Middleton is so keen on improving himself on the field, it is also vital that the Gers do not give up on him because of this tricky spell.
So far this term, despite his lack of first team action, the wide man has averaged a dribble success rate of 67.2%, as well as 4.33 crosses per match, as per Wyscout.
As a point of reference, Ryan Kent’s dribble success rate this season has been 54.1%, and he delivered just 2.63 crosses per match, as per Wyscout.
It’s clear that Middleton still has a lot of growing to do, but it’s also evident that he has more than enough of a spark to keep the faith in him for a while longer.
In other Rangers news, ‘He is a really big fan’ – 25y/o claims Gers boss Gerrard scouted him for 18 months.