The new Rangers defender has only made two appearances for the club since joining in the summer transfer window.
Rangers defender Filip Helander has been at Ibrox for two months, yet has only managed to make two appearances in a Light Blues shirt.
Announced as a marquee summer signing back in mid-July, hopes were initially high that the Swedish international could make a solid impact in Steven Gerrard’s first-team.
Over the last few years the Gers have not spent significant fees on a large number of players.
BBC Scotland report that the Ibrox club have weighed in as much as £3.5m on Helander.
Despite that, Gerrard has shown a real lack of faith in his abilities, or fitness, or perhaps even both.
On the eve of a huge UEFA Europa League campaign, questions must be asked about what’s going on with the 26-year-old.
Gerrard’s preferred options
Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic have been the preferred options in defence so far this season, a repeat of the run the duo got in the team initially last summer before Joe Worrall arrived.
But they haven’t exactly been incredibly solid over the last couple of months.
In fact, in the league, the only match in which Rangers have kept a clean sheet was the one that Helander started.
It doesn’t make sense that the Swede would be excluded from appearing in European competition, with the player even dropped from the squad at one point.
Lack of fitness?
The way in which Helander has been shunned would suggest Gerrard feels that he is not quite ready for first-team action.
Either that’s down to ability, or less worrisome for Rangers fans, because of fitness.
However, Gerrard’s shown he is willing to throw players into matches quite early if he has belief they can make an impact.
It most notably happened with Ryan Kent recently despite the player’s lack of action for Liverpool or their reserves.
If Helander is not ready now, will he ever be?
Thursday could be a big sign
One of Rangers’ biggest matches of the season is on the horizon and Gerrard must go with his absolute strongest eleven.
If Helander is not included it suggests that the £3.5m reportedly spent was not good to improve his defensive line.
That should be a concern for supporters who have already had to endure expensive errors like Eros Grezda during the Ibrox boss’ reign.
It’s feasible that changing a settle defensive line for a crucial European match has its risks, but neither Goldson nor Katic have been playing well enough to have a guaranteed spot in the side.
If Helander is not included in the starting eleven, it’ll be time for Gerrard to address what’s going on with the 8-cap defender.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
