Glasgow Rangers boss Steven Gerrard called out Umar Sadiq last week.
Of all the many signings Steven Gerrard brought to Rangers in the summer, Umar Sadiq is currently the biggest disappointment.
The Nigerian striker always looked gamble for Rangers, with a patchy record on loan in Italy in Holland undermining his status as a Roma forward.
After featuring in July, Sadiq has been missing from first team duty since, cast aside to the under-20s.
Rangers may need him at the end of the month, with Alfredo Morelos suspended for the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen.
Manager Steven Gerrard dealt him a warning last week, and called him out.
Gerrard told The Sunday Post: “What we want is the real, aggressive Sadiq. That’s we’ve paid for, that’s what we’ve asked for, that’s what we’ve got in. This is me trying a different way to get it out of him because I’ve tried other ways.”
The Rangers boss sounds exasperated with the loan striker, and he has taken to new measures after failing to be impressed by his performances.
Was it a desperate measure, to call him out so publicly? Absolutely. That doesn’t make it the wrong call.
Yet Gerrard clearly feels this is necessary, and with Sadiq only on loan for a year, time is of the essence.
The Rangers boss must essentially shock the striker into action.
It could backfire entirely if Sadiq doesn’t rise to the challenge; but he isn’t at present. So it’s a case of nothing gained if it doesn’t work out.
If Sadiq now steps up, Gerrard’s actions will begin to look like a bit of a masterstroke.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
