Left back has been one of the problematic areas for Rangers in the past month as Jon Flanagan has been well below par filling in for Borna Barisic in that position. However, the recent update from Steven Gerrard is going to bring a lot of joy among the Gers fans as the fullback is close to being back in contention for selection
Gerrard told Rangers Tv as quoted by Sky Sports,”Borna is very close. Whether he is available for the weekend we will make a decision in the next couple of days. But over the next two or three games, Borna will be back in the squad.”
With the Christmas time fast approaching, the games are going to come thick and fast for the next two months, and Gerrard would need every ounce of his squad depth to take on all the challenges. Their defeat to Spartak Moscva in the Europa League has made things more interesting, and the Gers would need some kind of a result against Villareal at home. Barisic was a significant threat against the Spanish opponents when the two teams met earlier, and Gerrard would hope that he could be ready in time for that game.
However, first Rangers would have to take on Livingston in the league, and they shouldn’t underestimate them as they held Celtic to a 0-0 draw in the last game. Gerrard would like to keep the pressure on Celtic who are currently just two points ahead and they have an extra set of fixture to compete for as they play the League Cup final. Therefore, Rangers will have a good chance to pile up the pressure on their derby rivals if they keep racking up three points in the league games.
Flanagan who has been covering for Barisic isn’t a natural while going forward and given that he is right footed, that doesn’t help him in delivering pinpoint crosses. However, what has been poor from the former Liverpool fullback is his defensive work and Gerrard had to use midfielder Andy Halliday for few encounters as Flanagan was failing to turn up game after game.
Barisic will be a more natural left back, and his attacking contribution would keep the opposition defenders busy. The summer signing has even made it into Croatia’s national team squad and that in itself says a lot about his talent as the Croats were the World Cup runners-up recently. In just 7 appearances for the Light Blues, the left-back has managed 4 assists so far
At £2m (Daily Mail), Barisic has been an absolute bargain for the Bears, and there wouldn’t have been a much better time for the 26-year-old to come back fit with a series of crucial games against the likes of Villarreal, Hearts and Aberdeen coming up back to back.
