One thing Steven Gerrard has been in his time as Rangers manager is honest.
In his pre-match press conference for Ross County, the Gers gaffer held his hands up for being partially responsible for Fashion Sakala’s interrupted start to life in Glasgow, a minor groin strain preventing him from playing a bigger part in early season fixtures.
His absence has been sorely felt with Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe missing games for a variety of reasons, Gerrard would have planned to have the Zambian international in his line up in the European games, his extra pace would have been a huge asset against stiffer opposition.
The Glasgow Times covered the manager’s comments, which does at least give some good news about when Sakala will return to action:
“Sakala has got a bit of a niggle in his groin, I think he is paying for myself and the staff pushing him a little bit too quick, maybe.
“Not getting a full pre-season and we have pushed him in a little bit too quick coming out of the hotel and putting him into full training too quick.
“I think part of that little niggle is on me as well. That is a frustrating one, but what we don’t want to do is put him in while it is niggling away and make it worse. Hopefully he won’t be too far away.”
It’s been equally as frustrating for fans, his goal against Real Madrid in pre-season gave a glimpse of what he can offer, one touch and he was away from the defence, his next touch was in the back of the net.
One of the main reasons we won the league last season was the depth of squad that Gerrard had at his disposal, yes, the injuries, quarantine issues and suspensions played there part against Malmo, but there is no excuse for losing to Dundee United when you consider the players that were available.
Trying to rush Sakala up to full speed is forgivable, we can all understand the desire to integrate him as soon as possible especially if the player himself passed all the relevant fitness tests.
It would have been great to see him start against Alashkert in the second leg but that looks unlikely now, it’s even less likely to see him in the team for Celtic a few days later, seeing his name as part of the traveling party to Armenia would give fans a huge lift though and a sign that we are returning to something close to full strength.