Alex Lowry predicted to leave Rangers as Ibrox opportunity lost after Hearts disappointment

Alex Lowry will likely have to leave Rangers to further his career as he "way out of the equation" at Ibrox now, says Derek Ferguson.

The former Gers midfielder admitted it was difficult to say but the young winger has found himself in a bad situation after arriving back early from loan at Hearts this season with a hugely-disappointing injury.

Lowry's Rangers contract will only have a year left to run at the end of the season, and having not been seen in the Light Blues first team for over a year now Ferguson fears his ship has sailed.

Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News he said: “It’s so hard to say, he’s been right out of the picture. The loan deal at Hearts ended so disappointingly. 

“And that was down to the fact that he’s come back to Rangers injured. He just seems way out of the equation at the minute. 

“It’s terrible to say this, and it’s hard to say this, that as talented a boy that he is I think he’s going to be one of these guys that needs to look somewhere else to kick on with his career. 

“Talent ain’t enough, you need more than that. You need that mental strength, that physicality, fitness, everything that goes with being a top football player.

“And I just think it’s not quite happened for Alex. There’s no doubting his talent but I don’t think it’s going to be at Rangers, unfortunately.”

Does winger have a way back at Rangers under Philippe Clement?

Lowry, 20, burst into the first-team under Giovanni van Bronckhorst two seasons ago but saw his development stall after suffering an injury in the Lowlands League last term and then subsequently disappeared from the senior set up.

Ross McCausland has since broken through under Philippe Clement and has now made 35 first team appearances while Lowry has been left behind on 14.

The Belgian manager has never had a chance to use the latter though so he might want to assess him in preseason, but he wasn't planning to do so in January before his injury came to light and with the picture at Ibrox having changed hugely since the youngster was last in the frame his chance may already be lost.

In other Rangers news, a Gers ace axed by the manager admits what happens to mean "I'm rubbish anyway".

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