Rangers have made wholesale changes ever since Steven Gerrard took over and there was a complete overhaul of the squad last season with as many as 14 new signings coming in. One of them was Jamie Murphy, who was signed from Brighton. Given that he was coming from a Premier League club and had an international cap to his name with Scotland, a lot was expected of him. However, as luck would have it, he suffered an ACL injury in August last year, and he had to miss out the rest of the season.
The winger is still away as he is continuing with his rehab. It could even be months before he can get back to playing regularly. Recently Gerrard indicated (The Scottish Sun) that it could be four months and the manager also gave an indication about his plans for the winger.
Gerrard on Murphy situation
The English gaffer said, ”Murph is a unique situation. He’s missed a year’s football. He’s doing everything he can to get back to the level he was before. It’s not going to happen overnight. I predict it could take four months. I think a loan is one thing on the agenda. He needs as much football as he can, and at a decent level, to get back to where he was.”
The manager probably realises that with stakes being high this season, he cannot induct a player still recovering from injuries this season and a loan move is said to be on the agenda. However, getting a loan deal for a player like that could be tricky as prospective clubs would be aware of his injury issues.
Maybe Rangers will have to agree on paying his wages before any other team decides to take him in their ranks. With English clubs out of the picture, it remains to be seen whether the Glaswegian giants would be able to find a loan suitor for Murphy.
Right call from Gerrard?
Rangers’ options on the flanks have been decreasing, and that was probably the reason why the club went on to sign Brandon Barker this summer from Manchester City. Coming back from such a long injury is never smooth, and Rangers will probably have to be patient with Jamie Murphy.
As mentioned, the stakes are high this season, and every game will feel like a must-win game for Rangers if they want to push Celtic for the title this campaign. A loan move is probably the right call from the manager as Murphy needs some minutes under his belt to rediscover his old self.
