Why Rangers may have made judgement call error on Connor Barron after Middlesbrough update

Connor Barron's spell on loan at Middlesbrough from Rangers is not going to plan so far.

The Scotland international joined the English Championship club on loan on 1 September.

Barron is due to spend the duration of the 2026-27 campaign at the Riverside Stadium.

However, the 24-year-old has yet to feature for Boro in any competition since arriving at the start of the month.

Kim Hellberg's side have played five times across that period, including a Carabao Cup third-round tie.

An update has now been shared on Barron's lack of minutes south of the border, and it does not sound great for his prospects.

Why isn't Connor Barron getting minutes for Middlesbrough?

Barron is believed to have rejected a loan move to Germany late in the transfer window.

Twenty-four hours later, he instead agreed to join Boro on loan for the campaign.

Many Gers fans felt he still had a part to play in Derek McInnes' squad, but the decision to leave temporarily was agreed.

However, Rangers will now be questioning if they made a bad judgement call.

Hellberg was asked at a press conference on Friday exactly why Barron is not even getting in matchday squads right now.

Rokas Pukstas is another who has struggled for playing time since joining, though he has at least had some substitute appearances.

"They’re here now, and they are fit,” Hellberg is quoted as saying by the Northern Echo. "Rokas has had some minutes. It’s tougher for Connor because he came late, and we have a lot of players.

“He’s training very well and we’ve had a good chat. He's ready, and there will be chances for him to show that.

"But because we have a lot of players, to take one player in means you have to take someone else out."

Hellberg did say he expects Barron to play more games as the season goes on, but the Swedish boss is effectively saying the midfielder is not even good enough for a place in the squad right now.

What is Barron's contract situation at Rangers?

Barron will have one more season to run on his contract at Ibrox upon returning next summer.

The former Aberdeen player has spent a couple of years in Glasgow but has been unable to truly fulfil his potential.

The hope is that Barron turns things around at Middlesbrough, plays regularly and becomes a key first-team player for Rangers.

What is looking more likely right now, though, is that his career is further stagnating, which is not good for the midfielder and is not good for Rangers.