Forgotten Rangers captain Lee Wallace has endured a tough time this season. Last season’s bust-up with former manager Graeme Murty didn’t help his cause, and ever since Steven Gerrard took over, he doesn’t seem to be in the reckoning for a place in the starting eleven. However, the manager recently responded to the former captain’s situation at the Annual General meeting when a fan asked about the left back.
The Gers supporter asked (Via The Scottish Sun), “The treatment we’ve given to our captain Lee Wallace who has stood by this club for the last three years – I know there was a bit of whatever there was there – but I think it’s disgusting and I’m really disappointed that it’s not been resolved and that man’s not back in the team.”
Gerrard responded,”I came in and Lee Wallace was out injured at the time. He missed 12 months of football. I have to pay my respects to Lee in terms of his professionalism. At the moment to be really candid he’s still part of the plans while he’s here but I have better options at the moment in that position.”
Gerrard brought Borna Barisic and Jon Flanagan during the summer transfer window, and both of them played for the most parts of this season in the left back role. Midfielder Andy Halliday has also filled in when required, and Wallace doesn’t currently seem to be in the plan even though Gerrard might insist that he is still part of the arrangements.
However, we cannot judge from outside as the manager is the one who is seeing him from close quarters and maybe he feels that Wallace is not yet hundred per cent to take on the challenges after his various injury issues. The 31-year-old has entered the final year of his contract and there seems to be no indication that the full-back would get a new deal at Ibrox.
The fact that he isn’t even getting into the matchday squads suggests that he is nowhere near selection in the first team at the moment. The Scotsman also isn’t a part of the Europa League squad. Maybe with time and more fitness, the left-back might be able to revive his career in the later stages of the season.
Wallace has also drawn interest (The Scottish Sun) from Championship outfit Wigan Athletic and if left to us, the club should probably look to sell him in January to cut away the expenses of his wages. He might not fetch a lot in the transfer market but something is better than nothing and with enough cover for the left-back role, we don’t see Wallace turning it around even though Gerrard did indicate he can play some part this season.
