Rangers, a galvanised force under Steven Gerrard, are gearing up for the upcoming campaign to challenge Celtic for the Premiership. They have announced seven new signings this summer, but a few exits are also on the card to balance the books.
While Kyle Lafferty, Graham Dorrans, Eros Grezda and Jason Holt have been axed from their pre-season trip to Portugal, promising Jordan Rossiter has also been asked to find a new club (as claimed by the Scottish Sun) despite impressing on loan at Bury during the second half of the previous term. The gaffer is keen on trimming the squad furthermore but, at the same time, does not want Ross McCrorie to depart despite the uncertainty over his first-team future following the arrival of Joe Aribo.
The Scotland youth international was handed a bit-part role last season. His ability to feature in midfield as well as in deep defence adds versatility to the squad. However, the Ibrox chief has suggested that McCrorie should not to expect a regular starting position and decide whether he wants to stay and fight for his place at his boyhood club.
“With Ross, I’ll have a conversation with him as the pre-season goes on. It will boil down to what Ross’ ambitions are. If he’s expecting to start every single game, that won’t be the case. But I’ll speak to him before deciding what to do next.”
Gerrard told the Scottish Sun while discussing his plans for the homegrown prodigy.
McCrorie progressed through the youth ranks of the Light Blues before breaking into their senior side as a sporadic option. But the Bears are now well equipped in the middle of the park with Aribo, Steven Davis, Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack and Andy Halliday all fighting it out for a starting role in the centre of the pitch.
The 21-year-old, therefore, has to decide whether to continue his development at home or explore a new challenge elsewhere to attain game time.
It would be difficult for the youngster at Rangers considering the quality and experience they have in their midfield. But he would have enough minutes to prove his worth at some stage of a busy schedule during the forthcoming campaign and must give it a try before giving up on the club he has been representing since 2012.
