There was plenty of concern on Thursday evening when Rangers confirmed that on-loan Nottingham Forest centre-half Joe Worrall would make his debut in the game against Villarreal.
Having come in over the summer, everyone knows that the 21-year-old England youth international is incredibly highly rated and he has good experience with over 50 appearances to his name at his parent club in the English second tier, but it was a hell of a game for manager Steven Gerrard to throw him into.
Many thought it might be too deep a game to ask him to swim in but come the fulltime whistle, fans were raving about his showing as he was in the mix for Man of the Match after his efforts.
Considering the opposition mate he done very well
— Jordan Evans (@jorrdanevans1) September 20, 2018
Impressed very much with Joe Worrall. Looks calm and assured on the ball. Unlucky with the first goal but he looks like he will be a real asset. Slack from Barasic for their second goal but he more than made up for it for ours.
WE’RE ON OUR WAY ????????????
— adamski152 (@adamski152) September 20, 2018
Aye he put in a shift. Although I was practically in the sky we where that high up but thought he played well.
— Jay Fletcher???? (@JFletcher1872) September 20, 2018
Looks very comfortable taking the ball out of defence
— Thomas Bryce (@brycie1982) September 20, 2018
Joe Worrall has it in his back pocket along with Carzola https://t.co/0qaOPqHxPD
— BrownBrogues (@BrownBorgues) September 20, 2018
Thought joe Worrall was superb on his debut tonight!
— Gazza (@MarkMacpheeRFC) September 20, 2018
33 degree heat let’s not forget and Joe Worrall no games at all and performed like that!!
— DBL (@thedocdbl) September 20, 2018
Having performed like that in such a game, carrying the magnitude it did given our absence from the Group stages of the Europa League in recent years, well, it’s a credit to the mental strength of the lad himself and it’s not like Valencia are walkovers.
The kid clearly has a future and plenty want it to be with us.