Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is protecting midfielder Scott Arfield ahead of a long, arduous season.
Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield will have a cautious re-integration into Steven Gerrard’s first-team, with the Ibrox boss well aware that his fitness is behind that of his teammates.
Arfield has missed much of Rangers’ summer so far having taken part in the Gold Cup with Canada.
The midfielder played in every match, helping the international side reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
Also earning a well deserved break from football, the player only returned to the club last week, with the squad-at-large deep into their preparations for the coming season and already taking part in competitive action.
Gerrard now wants to take a patient approach with the 30-year-old, telling rangersfc.co.uk: “Scott Arfield is only probably on day five or six of pre-season, so he is one we will integreate a little bit slower because we want to be careful with Scott, we want him to be available for hopefully what is going to be a 60 games season.
“It’s important the fans understand that Scott is three weeks behind the team.”
Arfield was a key man last term, making 46 appearances, scoring 12 goals and assisting seven more.
Towards the end of the season he formed a lethal partnership with Jermain Defoe, making bursting runs forward from midfield to support the English veteran.
However, Rangers have since increased the competition in attacking midfield areas, signing talents such as Joe Aribo, Jordan Jones, Sheyi Ojo, Jake Hastie and Greg Stewart.
It leaves the former Burnley man with a tough job to retain his place in the team on a week-to-week basis, but Gerrard’s comments clearly suggest he is a priority player.
Having so many players of different styles, who can perform a number of different roles, doesn’t just provide depth but also tactical options and it’s going to be very interesting to see what Gerrard’s settled team is over the coming months.
However they lineup, Arfield could well be at the heart of it.
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