Glasgow Rangers manager Mark Warburton insists the 22-year-old will not be leaving Ibrox on loan.
Glasgow Rangers manager Mark Warburton has this week rubbished reports linking Matt Crooks with a January loan move [Scottish Sun].
Crooks, a summer signing from Accrington Stanley, has endured a difficult start to his Ibrox career, with injury restricting him to just three appearances for the Scottish Premiership side.
However, with Rangers thought to be looking to add to their engine room next month – Ryan Tunnicliffe [Daily Mail] being the latest – the midfielder’s situation is unlikely to improve in the near future, and a temporary move elsewhere could be Crooks’ best route back to the Gers boss’ plans.
Rangers’ ex-Accrington midfielder Matt Crooks
There would likely be no shortage of suitors should Crooks’ services be offered to other clubs, and one manager who could be keen is Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder.
Wilder, who made ex-Rangers man John Fleck one of his first Bramall Lane signings, failed to add to his midfield after that, despite reports linking him with the now Barnsley player Sam Morsy [Sheffield Star], and Crooks could be the ideal alternative.
The imposing ball-winner came up against Wilder while the Blades boss was in charge of Northampton, and is certain to have made an impression on his fellow Yorkshireman, who like him was included in League Two’s team of last season.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder
However, by the time Wilder returned to Sheffield, replacing Nigel Adkins at his boyhood club, Crooks had already agreed his big move to Rangers.
Warburton’s comments suggest that the Scottish giants retain high hopes for the former Huddersfield Town player, and six months at another sizeable club, who also have aspirations to overhaul the only side above them in the league table, could set him up nicely for a bright future at Ibrox.
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