Steven Gerrard has suggested that Glasgow Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack could return for the Ibrox side’s next game.
Ahead of the second-leg of Rangers’ Europa League clash with Maribor, Gers boss Steven Gerrard told the club’s official website that Ryan Jack could be in contention to feature against the Slovenian side after recovering from an injury sustained in the club’s Scottish Premiership opener earlier this month.
It remains to be seen if Jack plays any part against Darko Milanic’s men, but it is undoubtedly an enormous boost for Rangers to have the midfielder back in the ranks. And that is perhaps a statement that some Gers fans may not have expected to say before the campaign began.
Jack endured a difficult first season at Ibrox. He was able to showcase his quality, but seemed to have no luck during that first year. He received four red cards and saw two overturned on appeal, and then sustained an injury midway through the campaign that meant that he did not play after December.
No fans seemed to be writing the 26-year-old off over the summer, but Gerrard’s acquisition of a handful of central midfielders suggested that Jack may potentially be in line for more frustration this term. However, while there has been some frustration, none of that has come from Gerrard’s team selections.
Jack has been superb since Gerrard arrived. The Scotland international has arguably been one of the most impressive performers since the Englishman’s appointment, and it appeared that he was finally ready to stamp his authority on a position in the side before he got injured against Aberdeen.
It did not take long for it to become apparent that he was not going to be out for a long time, but his imminent return is still a massive boost, not only with the Europa League qualifiers continuing but with the first Old Firm contest of the campaign a handful of weeks away.
Jack’s form before his injury suggested that Rangers may have finally found a player who could be up for the midfield battle that Celtic have dominated in the games since the Gers’ last win against the Hoops.
Returning now gives Jack a fantastic chance of getting back to his previous level in time for the two clubs’ meeting at the start of September, and if he is at that level by then, it could boost Rangers’ chances of a positive result considerably.
Heading into this season, some Rangers fans may have had their doubts regarding the role Jack would play this term despite his obvious talent and quality. The huge boost that has arrived following the news that he is back in contention after just two games out highlights how quickly he has made himself indispensable to Gerrard.
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