A player, once considered much ahead of his age group, scored on his Liverpool debut four years back against Middlesbrough in a League Cup fixture and became the second youngest goalscorer in club’s history behind Michael Owen. His style of football, as well as the ability to control the midfield game with majestic passing traits, earned him comparisons with iconic Steven Gerrard – the current Rangers boss who is still adored for his peerless playing days for the Merseysiders.
Robbie Fowler, the other Liverpool legend, viewed the youngster as Gerrard’s worthy successor. However, all those hypes and expectations remained unfulfilled when the starlet decided to part ways with his boyhood side in favour of joining Mark Warburton’s Rangers in the summer of 2016.
The journey of Jordan Rossiter witnessed an unforeseen misfortune ever since following successive injury blows. The former England youth international, who captained both club and his country, has only managed 12 appearances, four starts and a total of just 639 minutes of competitive action in his 26 months time in Scotland.
“I chose Rangers because of the history it has got”, stated the player while explaining his mysterious move despite being regarded as the NxGn superstar of Liverpool football club. The Reds’ loss, meanwhile, was Rangers’ gain and the fans were understandably exhilarated to have someone of Rossiter’s potential en route to reconquering the lost throne from famous rivals Celtic on their return to the top tier of Scottish football having survived those darkest years of club’s history.
But things have not at all worked out so far and the supporters have witnessed very little of the 21-year-old prodigy who once earned Liverpool’s Academy Player of the Year reward for his incredible growth at the age of 16.
The Gers did not have a comfortable return to Premiership until this term when Steven Gerrard took charge of the Glasgow giants and transformed them into a Scottish force once again who are producing results week in week out amidst a hectic schedule. The gaffer has concluded an array of new signings but yet to give up on Rossiter.
Maybe that is him being aware of his sheer excellence since their Liverpool days and handed him around 34 minutes of game-time against Ayr United in midweek’s Scottish League Cup quarterfinal tie. Although the Englishman has not been included in Rangers’ Europa League squad, there is enough optimism at Ibrox regarding his future in spite of having a number of exciting names who are quite effective so far in the middle of the park.
There might be confusions over where he should be deployed and slotted in the current Rangers’ midfield set-up if stays fit. Veteran Graham Dorrans has returned to action recovering from an injury woe, Andy Halliday has redefined himself under Steven Gerrard, Scott Arfield has adjusted to a free role and the likes of Ryan Jack, Ross McCrorie, Lassana Coulibaly and Ovie Ejaria have added more strength as well as balance in midfield.
However, the likes of Jack, McCrorie and Halliday are most suited in a deep-lying role and lack enough creativity high up the pitch. Arfield has his presence in the attacking third but offers little defensively. Dorrans, in his 30s, has been fragile of late whereas both Ejaria and Coulibaly, though impressive, are on loan (from Liverpool and Angers respectively) and uncertain to be at Ibrox next season.
Rossiter is mostly known for his box-to-box movements, close control, holding traits, balanced work-rate, ability to switch the game on the flanks, build the game up from the deep and also shooting attribute that often leads to a goal or goal-bound opportunities. His all-round display should see him replacing Ejaria in the centre of the pitch on a regular basis from next season onwards as the Reds loanee might not be tied down permanently in favour of Coulibaly.
The Malian international has been a driving force in Rangers’ midfield and the gaffer has also admitted his desire of acquiring the 22-year-old for years to come. Jordan Rossiter, therefore, will have to reintegrate himself to first-team action and with Gerrard as the manager, he should fancy his chances of re-establishing his once highly-rated football career before it’s too late.
