View: Now or never for Amad Diallo to make Rangers loan a success
January was a rollercoaster of a transfer window for Rangers, summed up by the arrival of Amad Diallo just as Ianis Hagi suffered a season-ending knee injury.
From complete despair to excitement, Amad’s Ibrox career couldn’t have got off to a better start when he scored four minutes into his debut away at Ross County in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
The very next game saw the worst of the young Ivorian winger though, as he was poor in the 3-0 thumping by Celtic and was hooked at half-time.
Since then, Amad has featured for a total of just 22 minutes in the Scottish Premiership and question marks have been raised about why Giovanni van Bronckhorst opted to bring him in at all.
There’s been no stories of any disagreements or misbehaving behind the scenes, but more the manager just opting for more experience with Scott Arfield often preferred.
But now with Alfredo Morelos out for the remainder of the season with a thigh injury and both Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala failing to shine in their auditions to replace him, it may be time for Amad to get another chance.
Sakala was largely poor in the Europa League defeat to Braga in midweek, while Roofe offered nothing against Celtic last weekend.
Amad isn’t a centre forward by any stretch, clearly far more suited to playing on the wing or just behind the striker with his dribbling and passing ability.
But his addition into an attack that has looked blunt in the most recent games is something that should get some serious thought into it from the coaching staff.
Rangers have struggled to create real chances without Morelos as the focal point, with the midfield built to hold the fort and the attackers given free reign.
Adding Amad into that equation brings an air on unpredictability to the side and a spark they have been severely lacking.
At this point there is nothing to lose for van Bronckhorst. The title is gone after defeat last week, and if he the 19-year-old impresses against St Mirren at the weekend then there’s no reason not to play him against Braga at Ibrox.
It’s highly unlikely that anything he does from now to the end of the season sees him extend his stay at the club, but he can at least sign off with a flurry and some excitement instead of just disappearing back into the wilderness.
It’s now or never for Amad too to be remembered well in Glasgow.
In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist shares major Rangers concern for rest of the season, admits ‘pressure’ on two players in particular.