It’s always galling when Rangers are struggling for inspiration and a player who has been sent out on loan makes an instant impression.
Glenn Middleton has settled quickly on his return to St Johnstone, with the Gers winger being praised for his performance against Motherwell in his first appearance since making the decision to head back to Perth.
Rangers will be “closely monitoring” him with an option to recall him in January, and if he continues the way that he started, it certainly shouldn’t be ruled out, the Scotland youth cap is convinced that he is only going to get better too as revealed to Saints TV via Four Four Two:
“I made a few good chances and maybe should have put one away myself when I cut in, but overall I am pleased with how I did and hopefully I can really kick on now.
“I still don’t feel that it’s anywhere close to what I can do. I back myself to do quite a lot on the pitch, so hopefully as the weeks go on, I can start reaching that level again.”
St Johnstone fans were also hugely impressed with the 21-year old’s involvement and took to social media to praise the winger’s performance:
How good was this man yesterday? 🔥#SJFC pic.twitter.com/bWNSuWiQ6c
— St. Johnstone FC (@StJohnstone) August 9, 2021
Middleton for me was man of the match and brought so much creativity to the attack. Only for Zander and the post keeping it at a draw stopped him from actually getting it. Shame he can’t play Thursday.
— GeeDub (@GeeDubSevenNine) August 9, 2021
Great wee player glad to have him back with the boys
— Gav Simpson 🏆🏆 (@weetam83) August 9, 2021
Absolutely on fire 🔥
— ☆🏆ҍҽեհ ǟʀʄǟօʊɨ🏆☆ (@B3thArfaoui) August 9, 2021
Middleton is a player who causes constant debate amongst Rangers fans as to whether or not he is good enough to one day hold down a regular place in the first-team squad, he has all the attributes but needs to have a consistent season of not only playing games but of adding goals and assists.
Steven Gerrard clearly sees something there otherwise he would have released him a while ago, talks of him being converted to a left-back make sense but he just won’t get that opportunity in a Rangers shirt.
Sometimes we – as fans – can be too quick to write youth players off, we just need to look across the city at the likes of James Forrest and Ryan Christie, nobody would have seen them producing the numbers they did under Brendan Rodgers when they first broke through, we also have Ryan Kent and Scott Wright to compare him to, neither of whom were the finished articles at 21.
There’s a player there, but time will tell if he gets to show it again at Ibrox or if someone else will reap the benefits.