Rangers backed to recall Connor Barron after Middlesbrough nightmare

Rangers have been told to bring Connor Barron back from his loan at Middlesbrough.

The 24-year-old had been a key member of the team under Danny Rohl last season.

It feels as if the rug was pulled from beneath his feat when the German departed for RB Salzburg in the summer.

Chances were soon limited under Derek McInnes as several midfield alternatives were brought in.

That prompted the one-time Scotland international to depart on loan before the end of the summer window.

Barron has gone on to struggle for minutes at Middlesbrough as a return to Govan could happen sooner than expected.

Barry Ferguson calls for Connor Barron return at Rangers

There was a feeling that a move to the Riverside was a good deal for all parties this summer.

Boro are one of the top sides in the Championship and are likely to be in the race for promotion when the campaign comes to an end.

That would have meant the Ibrox loanee would have been featuring for a side among the best in their league, just like the Gers.

Things haven't worked out as minutes have become increasingly hard to come by.

That has been raised by Barry Ferguson on the Five Stars Podcast as he urged Rangers to recall him as soon as possible.

He said: "He hasn’t even kicked a ball, he hasn’t even been on the bench! You would need to bring him back, and listen, if he's not going to be part of the plans he needs to go somewhere to play.

"He is good enough to play. Wee Connor, in my opinion, is a really good player. He is at an age where he needs to play every single week. If he is not going to get any game time - which I am surprised at Middlesbrough, why would they take him if they are not going to play him?

"You would need to bring him back and maybe try to get him another loan. But, I am surprised he has not played any minutes at all."

It will now be interesting to see if the Light Blues take the advice of their former interim boss as we assess Barron's spell with Boro.

What we know Barron's Middlesbrough loan spell

The Scot completed a move to the Riverside in September and is yet to feature in a single game for the Championship club.

It is even worse than it sounds as he has only made the bench three times under Kim Hellberg.

That has been thanks in part to Boro's success on the pitch as they sit second in the table with 10 games gone.

It has been suggested that he only isn't getting game time as he is yet to break into the starting XI.

That points towards the fact that his chance is coming, but it doesn't seek to benefit Rangers for them to wait around.

It is now down to their own call if they wish to bring Barron back in January.