For those worried about the current state of Rangers defence and hanker for the return of a fans favourite, there’s good news to be had.
Nikola Katic missed a year’s worth of football after suffering a serious knee injury last summer, an injury that now sees him turning out for Hadjuk Split on loan, a rumour option to buy clause in the region of £3million said to be part of the deal – unless he is recalled in January.
In Filip Helander’s absence, we have seen Jack Simpson and Calvin Bassey deputise whenever Leon Balogun is in need of a rest, but neither are up to the standard that we know the big Croatian is capable of, however, it was never an option to keep him at the club for selfish reasons when he was so desperately short of match practice.
The good news though, should Steven Gerrard decide to recall the 25-year old which is a decision looking more likely with the news that both Balogun and Bassey could be missing for six-weeks due to the African Cup of Nations, is that he appears to be nearing full fitness again.
He has started Split’s last four fixtures and played the full 90 minutes in three of them, only coming off with 20 minutes to go against NK Belisce because his team was cruising to victory, encouraging signs for a potential return in January.
If he continues to play as regularly, with no indication that his knee is troubling him, he has to come back, especially if Helander is yet to recover himself from knee surgery, Katic has his faults but you won’t find many, if any, fans that wouldn’t;t welcome him back with open arms at the nearest opportunity.