Is Graham Dorrans under serious pressure in Rangers’ next game?

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Graham Dorrans has arguably been one of Glasgow Rangers’ most disappointing players since he returned for the Ibrox side.

Given the excitement that surrounded his arrival and the form that he showed in the opening weeks of the season, it is not difficult to see why Rangers fans were hugely excited about Graham Dorrans’ return from injury in March.

Dorrans boasts plenty of Premier League experience and hit the ground running at Ibrox, with five goals coming in his first nine Scottish Premiership appearances, including two on his debut to help the Gers beat Motherwell. His form made the £750,000 fee that Rangers paid – according to the Daily Record – seem like a real bargain.

However, since his return, the 30-year-old has arguably been one of the Light Blues’ most disappointing performers, proving to be almost non-existent in each of the last two Old Firm games which certainly seemed to account for Graeme Murty’s premature departure.

While any initial concern about his form could have arguably been put down to how long he spent on the sidelines, his more recent performances have to be worrying the Rangers fans who were seriously excited about his arrival last year.

It is not an Old Firm game this weekend, but surely it is therefore fair to say that Dorrans is under a huge amount of pressure to impress when the Gers host Kilmarnock at Ibrox.

Not only are Rangers facing a serious fight to try and secure second place in the top flight, but Dorrans could be lining up against a player who the Gers are seemingly keen to make his teammate next season.

The Daily Mail reported in April that Rangers were amongst the sides keen on signing Youssouf Mulumbu when his contract at Rugby Park expires at the end of the season.

So with Saturday the last time the two teams will meet this term, the Rangers hierarchy may well be determined to have a very close look at the 31-year-old, and Dorrans’ display may have a major impact on how influential Mulumbu is allowed to be.

And if Mulumbu impresses while Dorrans flounders again, it may not be out of the question to suggest that the Rangers board may be even more keen to sign the former West Brom man – who played alongside Dorrans for the Baggies and Norwich City – and that may leave a question mark over where Dorrans will sit in the pecking order next season.

Of course, Dorrans may get the chance to play further forward now that Murty has gone – many fans seemed to want him pushed higher up rather than being used in a holding role – and that may mean that the pair are not exactly battling directly at the weekend. But if Rangers see Dorrans’ best role being in the middle of the park, then the pressure is definitely on against Killie.