Rangers winger Eros Grezda would be a worried man after the recent snub he got from the team as he failed to even make the bench against Hearts of Midlothian where Rangers were rampant and ran out 3-1 winners. However, the Albanian international went on to later reveal that he is struggling with fitness off late and that seems like the primary reason why he has failed to make regular appearances.
Even when he has made it to the bench, the winger has been overlooked as Ryan Kent has been outstanding of late and Daniel Candeias has also picked up his game in the last few outings. We have been advocates of dropping Candeias, but one can understand why Gerrard has persisted with him.
The Portuguese winger has a terrific work rate and his pressing and tracking back helps the side immensely, and that is one of the primary reasons why he is being picked ahead of Grezda. Candeias’ final delivery was often the problem though with some regular game time of late; he has improved on that front as well.
Grezda was almost brought in as a replacement for Jamie Murphy who suffered a season-long injury but at the moment the Albanian looks down the pecking order as even when he was available, he made just two appearances from the bench.
However, the 23-year-old had some good words to say about the manager and looks comfortable at his place at the moment. He said, “Steven Gerrard is very professional. He is very focused and has created a very good team spirit – you really notice it in training. The training is really good and the best I have been involved with. I have nothing but praise for him as a manager.”
“I have spoken a lot with him and he knows it will take me some time to adjust to football in Scotland and with Rangers. It’s important he knows my qualities and what I can bring to the team, Rangers fans won’t see what I can do until I am completely fit and I haven’t been so far.”- the 23-year-old added further.
It’s never easy for someone coming from a different league and proving themselves in a league which is physically more demanding. Grezda has the technical abilities to outwit his opponents but he certainly seems to lack the required level of fitness to play regularly. With time one can expect him to be at his hundred per cent and the winger would get a chance to prove himself in the playing eleven.
However, his door for selection to the starting lineup seems to be closed as of now as currently, Kent and Candeias are nailed on starters. Young Glenn Middleton has also impressed in short little cameos so it would be interesting to see whether this £2m man would be able to make that impact on the team when he returns to full fitness.
