Joe Worrall is helping Rangers challenge for the Scottish Premiership title but could he be forced to return to Forest after Aitor Karanka’s departure?
Suddenly, could Joe Worrall’s short-term future at Rangers be in doubt?
There has been a trend of club’s cancelling loan spells of late, with Michy Batshuayi returning to Chelsea after a dismal spell with Valencia, Tommy Elphick heading to Aston Villa from Hull City and Leicester bringing Harvey Barnes back to the King Power Stadium on Friday.
Worrall has spent the first half of the season at Ibrox after he fell down the pecking order under Aitor Karanka at Nottingham Forest. England’s 2017 Toulon tournament winning captain has quickly established himself as a key player at Rangers.
But, with Karanka bidding farewell to Forest on Friday, relieved of his duties with the East Midland club 12 points off the top of the Championship, it will be interesting to see what impact this has on Rangers’ hopes of keeping Worrall until the summer.
After all, it seemed Karanka did not rate the academy graduate too highly, but his Nottingham Forest replacement might have a different view.
The Mail believes that the former Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is a top target, and his possession-based style should suit a defender renowned for his ability to pass the ball out from the back.
Back in November, Worrall told Herald Scotland that he was enjoying playing regular first-team football at Rangers, so remaining in Glasgow should be the priority.
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