Two Rangers players came face-to-face on Saturday in a promotion battle between Sunderland and Oxford United and it’s safe to say that one of them definitely left with the bragging rights.
Jordan Jones and Brandon Barker both appear to be on their way out of Ibrox in the summer and, if they continue their current form, they shouldn’t be short of options.
Jones in particular has shown that he is playing at a level below his capabilities and will surely have offers from the English Championship, that he has impressed in the Europa League demonstrates exactly what he can do when he is on his game.
Vital Rangers Player of the Year 2020/21
Allan McGregor
Connor Goldson
James Tavernier
Steven Davis
After a promising start, things started to go downhill for Barker after getting booked for a foul on his Ibrox team-mate no less…
25′ YELLOW to Barker for a trip on Jones as he looked to race down the right. #SAFC 0-1 #OUFC
— Oxford United FC (@OUFCOfficial) April 2, 2021
Things then went from bad to worse as Barker – who had created the opener for Oxford – got a front row ticket to Jones engaging in a spot of showboating, not only that, but it ended in a goal, once again showing that the Northern Ireland International really is better than the English third tier, perhaps the spell with Sunderland will remind him of what he has at Rangers and enforce a change in the attitude that saw him sent out in the first place.
Need someone to look at me the way Brandon barker looks at Jones during this run & assist pic.twitter.com/uhF1RxuR47
— CJ (@cjnovo992) April 2, 2021
There is little chance of either player being given a reprieve, if we are to qualify – and compete – in the Champions League, the squad has to be improved again, Barker and Jones didn’t cost much between them and were worth a punt at the time they were signed but now it is right for them to be moved on and, if Jones in particular can maintain his current form, we could even make a tidy profit.