You don’t get many chances to make a good first impression as a Rangers player, something that John Lundstram has learned the hard way.
The former Sheffield United midfielder, it’s say to say, has had an indifferent start to life in Light Blue, a couple of promising performances interspersed with poor ones, particularly in continental football.
He has though been backed to come good by a former player who knows all too well what it is like to be sent off early at a new club, Kevin Phillips, as told to Football Insider:
“He’s not had a great start.
“I was speaking to some Sheffield United fans the other night and I asked them if they were sad to see Lundstram go.
“They weren’t to be honest. That surprised me and he could still be a good signing for Rangers.
“I got sent off in my third game for Southampton and it’s not a nice feeling.
“The player will be disappointed, it’s really disappointing for everyone.
“The only saving grace is that Rangers majorly bailed him out and won the game. He was the luckiest man in Ibrox that night.“
The issue with Sheffield United fans it that their relegation was blamed, partially, on Lundstram’s drop in form, however, there were few players in that squad that performed to the standard of the previous season but, because he didn’t sign a new contract, he was an easy target.
Lundstram is obviously still trying to find his feet, better players than him – Ally McCoist and Mark Hateley to name but two – have struggled when first moving to Rangers, however, he has shown in glimpses that he could prove Phillips right.
Even when he came on against Ross County as a late substitute he was influential, playing a key role in the fourth goal to put the game to bed. He was aggressive in the tackle then drove forward playing quick, first-time passing to create an overlap that the hosts failed to recover from – more involvement like that and he will soon have the fans in his favour.
He looks like a player who is adjusting to a new shape and style of play, our midfielders have a lot to deal with between building attacks, winning the ball back in transition and covering our full-backs – it’s not an easy job, but it’s one he will have to get used to pretty quickly, if he is to make the impact that we all thought he could make when he first signed.