Pedro Caixinha did not wait around to get rid of Rangers winger Michael O’Halloran this summer, sending him to former club St Johnstone on loan.
Mark Warburton’s departure from Rangers in February of this year hit Michael O’Halloran harder than most.
The talented winger was brought to Ibrox by Warburton in the winter of 2016 just days after tearing them apart in a Scottish Cup clash for St Johnstone. The manager’s exit just over 12 months later, however, prompted the appointment of Pedro Caixinha and spelled the end of O’Halloran’s short Rangers career.
Though the 26-year-old has certainly proven a point to a manager who claimed he did not have what it takes to play for a club of Rangers’ stature, as reported by the Daily Record.
O’Halloran won the Scottish Premiership’s Player of the Month award for August after a stunning start to life back at former club St Johnstone, who he re-joined on loan in the summer transfer window. In total, the one-time Celtic youth player has five goals in five league starts, including bonafide stunners against both Motherwell and Kilmarnock.
Though perhaps the biggest indication of his impact at St Johnstone this season is how much they have struggled when shorn of O’Halloran’s attacking influence. The fleet-footed winger limped off against Dundee three weeks ago and the Perth side have looked a far less dangerous beast since.
St Johnstone failed to produce a single shot on target as they struggled for attacking inspiration in the 3-0 trouncing at Aberdeen at the weekend. And manager Tommy Wright will be counting down the days until his return.
Rangers counterpart Pedro Caixinha, however, may be wondering whether he has made a mistake shoving O’Halloran out of the exit door. Though he’d likely be far too proud to admit it.
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