It’s always frustrating when new signings get injured not long after arriving, Giovanni van Bronckhorst having to cope without Ben Davies, John Souttar, Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence already for varying spells.
The latter has been the biggest miss over the last two games, his ability to link midfield and attack, his work rate and flexibility have meant that we have had to put square pegs in round holes or weaken the starting XI, I’m not saying he would have prevented the last two results but he would have made a difference.
With three goals and two assists in his nine appearances so far, it’s safe to say that the 28-year old has hit the ground running, if only he hadn’t made the challenge for the ball on the final whistle against Ross County that will see him missing until after the international break.
Had he been fit, he would have had more than a decent shout to be recalled by his country, however, Rob Page has more than burst his bubble with it looking increasingly like he won’t play under this Wales manager, as reported by The Daily Record:
“There’s no history between me and Tom. Understandably he was disappointed that I didn’t take him to the Euros, I would have been disappointed as a player as well.
“I think he deserved his move to Rangers off the back of his performances at Derby and he’s a good player.
“But Brennan Johnson and Rubin Colwill have come into the squad, and we’ve got youngsters like Luke Harris that people are talking about. That’s just football.”
Colwill and Harris play for Cardiff City and Fulham respectively, the latter having not played at all for the first-team this season which suggests that Lawrence has no chance even with him playing in the Champions League.
To not give Lawrence a token gesture “if he maintains his current form he has a good chance” says it all really, at major tournaments having experienced players in the squad can help the youngsters but it looks as though, whatever the Rangers midfielder does, he simply won’t be good enough.
Their loss is our gain.