Matt Crooks hasn’t been given a fair crack of the whip at Rangers – and Scunthorpe United want to take full advantage after an excellent loan spell.
Matt Crooks quickly became a fans favourite at Scunthorpe
Matt Crooks’ 2016/17 campaign was certainly a season of two halves.
The first; a disaster. Arriving at Rangers from Accrington Stanley alongside Josh Windass last summer, the powerful midfielder was handed just one Scottish Premiership start by manager Mark Warburton, forced into an unfamiliar deep-lying role in a 2-0 defeat to Hearts.
The second half of the season, however, could hardly have been different. Shunted out to Scunthorpe United on loan, the 23-year-old was outstanding in a more natural box-to-box role.
Combining crunching tackles with a penchant for the odd wondergoal, Crooks netted three times in eight starts, a season-ending injury sustained in April proved a major factor as The Iron lost out to Millwall in the League One play-off semi-finals.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that Scunthorpe would jump at the chance to sign him again next season. The Daily Record claim that manager Graham Alexander has even travelled to Glasgow for talks with Crooks in the hope that he will be let go this summer.
Iron boss Graham Alexander
Whether Rangers counterpart Pedro Caixinha is willing to sanction a deal, however, remains to be seen. After all, Crooks has not played a single minute of football under the Portuguese tactician, having been loaned out two months before Caixinha’s appointment in March.
Missed the boat?
And you wonder whether the manager would want to see Crooks in action, at least in pre-season, before making a definitive decision about his future. Based on his excellent displays for Scunthorpe, it would appear short-sighted not to at least give him a chance.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
Yet, if Crooks was struggling for opportunities under Warburton, it appears chances may be even more difficult to come by this time around. Caixinha has now put his own stamp on the club, beefing up the midfield with classy Mexican international Carlos Pena and former Aberdeen all-rounder Ryan Jack.
Niko Kranjcar and Jordan Rossiter, who missed most of last season through injury, will also feel like new signings.
If Crooks wants first-team football next season, he’s more likely to get it at Scunthorpe.
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