‘Embarrassing’ display shows Rangers should snap Fulham’s hand off for Rob Kiernan if they return for him in the summer

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The 26-year-old’s error-strewn display against Hearts will have had Rangers fans wishing they’d taken the money in January.

Just before the January transfer window creaked open, reports in the Daily Mail that Fulham were preparing to offer £2 million for Rangers’ centre-back Rob Kiernan had fans suffering something of a dilemma.

On one hand, the 26-year-old had been one of the most consistent players in a ragtag squad and, thanks to his ball-plying stylings, appeared a perfect fit for Mark Warburton’s tactical blueprint.

On the other, the dangling carrot of a £2 million influx was rather tempting, especially as Rangers had signed him for next to nothing 18 months previously.

Fast forward to February, however, and those who had opted to stick with the defender may be hastily scrolling through their social media feed, hastily deleting any Tweets of support for the former Wigan Athletic youngster.

While it almost seems unjust to single out in individual on the back of the worst collective performance of the season, Wednesday’s 4-1 thrashing at Hearts, Kiernan perhaps warrants an exception.

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“Look at Rob Kiernan’s defending for Hearts opening goal. It’s an absolute embarrassment,” former Hibernian defender Tam McManus told the Daily Record.

“Unacceptable and not the first time either.”

Suddenly, £2 million would have appeared rather good business, another example of Mark Warburton’s ability to eke out a profit.

As John Stones has discovered this season, a centre-back’s ability to bisect a midfield line with a perfect weighted through ball counts for little if he ignores the very basics of his defensive duties.

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And Fulham could be forgiven for dropping their valuation slightly after the Tynecastle horror show, if they were to come back in for him in the summer. Either way, a strong bid should be something the Gers consider.