Rangers forward Michael O’Halloran’s former teammate Dave Mackay discloses his initial reaction to no-show rumours

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Michael O’Halloran has seemingly plunged his Glasgow Rangers future into doubt by not turning up for a youth team game for the Ibrox side.

Rangers’ Michael O’Halloran

Michael O’Halloran’s former teammate Dave Mackay has explained that he was shocked when he initially heard the rumours that the Rangers forward had failed to turn up for a youth team game, the Daily Record reports.

According to The Scottish Sun, O’Halloran has been ordered to train on his own until further notice by Gers boss Pedro Caixinha after failing to turn up for an under-20s game. The Scottish Sun adds that his frustration at being asked to play the game prompted the no-show.

But Mackay – who played alongside the forward during their spells at St Johnstone – has insisted that there must have been something else to it as the player he knows would not have been capable of simply not turning up.

“When I saw the stories and read about what happened I was surprised. I’ve no idea what the situation is and it’s between Rangers and Michael,” he said, as reported by the Record.

“But I felt as though it had to be some sort of miscommunication because he didn’t strike me as the type of guy who would do something like that. His attitude or his commitment was never in question at St Johnstone.

“I find it hard to imagine the guy I worked with would know the details or where and when he needed to be and then just would not turn up.

“I’m sure there is some sort of explanation. I’d be so surprised if that was the case – that he just didn’t turn up.”

There is no question that O’Halloran could be forgiven for being frustrated with how life has gone at Ibrox, having failed to hold down a place in the team under Mark Warburton and with the early stages of Caixinha’s tenure suggesting that he is no further away from the periphery of the squad.

However, if the reports are correct that the 26-year-old’s reason for not turning up was that frustration, then there can surely be little defence for the forward.

None of the current squad are Caixinha signings and thus, they cannot really have any complaints if they did not fit into the manager’s plans.

And while every player arguably should get a clean slate and have a chance to prove themselves to the new manager, O’Halloran seems to have quickly blown his opportunity.