Rangers striker Umar Sadiq is struggling to make an impact at Ibrox.
Rangers striker Umar Sadiq is struggling for playing time under Steven Gerrard – and one of the club’s youngsters being in red-hot form may not help his cause.
The Gers were looking for attacking reinforcements over the summer to join Alfredo Morelos, and struck a loan deal with Roma to take Sadiq for the season.
Sadiq, 21, was always seen as a relative punt, as he hasn’t really shown consistent quality in the early stages of his career, and was brought in as an unknown quantity.
With Kyle Lafferty arriving last month, Sadiq was bumped down to third-choice striker, and hasn’t made a single competitive start for the club, playing just three times in total.
Gerrard has been concerned with Sadiq’s inability to make an impact for Rangers, and even suggested that he needs to improve massively to lead the line against Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup semi-final later this month.
Lafferty is cup-tied and Morelos is suspended, meaning the centre forward spot is open – and Sadiq’s chances of claiming the role were already slim, but may have taken a hit on Tuesday.
Rangers Under-19’s hammered Hamburg 5-0 on Tuesday, and 19-year-old striker Andy Dallas hit a hat-trick, leaving fans to call for him to be called up to the first team with both Zak Rudden and Ryan Hardie out on loan.
Gerrard has already shown that he will give chances to young players if they deserve them, having given Glenn Middleton an important role this season, and building Dallas up to a similar role in attack – coming in when needed whilst gaining valuable minutes – may not only be better for the long-term, but also in the short term.
Sadiq is under enough pressure as it is without a talented young striker scoring goals for Rangers’ youth team, and his chances of convincing Gerrard that he can feature may have taken a hit with Dallas starring this week.
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