Sunday’s league cup tie against Falkirk gave Steven Gerrard the chance to rotate his squad, introduce a couple of academy stars to the first-team and bring Glenn Middleton in from the cold.
Too good for the academy but not yet good enough to dislodge regulars in the Rangers starting XI, Middleton is in his own personal limbo at Auchenhowie just now and after two failed loan spells last season, many could be forgiven for thinking that his time in Light Blue was coming to an end.
What stands the Scotland youth cap in good stead is that he made an impression on the gaffer in his first season in the Ibrox hot seat, making nearly 30 appearances as an 18-year old is not to be sniffed at, that he is still only 20 is often forgotten when valuing his worth and future at the club.
After the 4-0 win over the Bairns, Gerrard gave Middleton a glowing review indicating that his future may yet lie with Rangers in the years to come, as reported by The Daily Record:
“Glenn has been on loan and had injuries but he has been back within the group for four or five weeks now.
“He has been working hard and playing for an opportunity.
“We think he can do left-back, left-wingback or left-wing and it was a strong cameo from him.”
He has a lot going for him in that he is quick, comfortable on the ball, athletic and has a great left foot, when he first broke into the team Rangers were playing with out-and-out wingers but it is Borna Barisic and James Tavernier that are performing that role now and this could well be where his future lies.
Calvin Bassey has impressed in Barisic’s absence but having spent most of his time at centre-half during his time at Leicester City – and showing up well against Falkirk – it may be that he is moved inside to give more playing time to Middleton at left-back.
Glenn has enough credit in the bank to suggest that he can one day be an asset for Rangers and at 20-years old, time is certainly on his side, after all, many had written off Alan Hutton after 30 games and look how he turned out.