The midfielder was handed just one league start at Rangers – out of position to boot.
Few could blame Matt Crooks from scarpering away from Ibrox in January after starting just one league game after his summer arrival from Accrington Stanley.
The 23-year-old joked to the Daily Record earlier in the season that Rangers fans would be hard pressed recognising their new midfield powerhouse in the street such was his limited involvement under Mark Warburton.
Every joke has a kernel of truth of course and the fact that Crook’s only start, a 2-0 home defeat to Hearts in which he was deployed in an unfamiliar progressive role, cast doubts over whether he could make the grade at Ibrox. Or even whether Warburton knew his best position.
However, Crooks can at least take solace in knowing that no such questions are hanging over his head at Glanford Park.
The midfielder was handed a loan lifeline by Scunthorpe United in January and, despite their winless streak extending to seven games with a 2-0 home reverse to promotion rivals Fleetwood Town, Crooks’ performance at least gave the fans something to hang onto.
His performance was steady rather than spectacular but he also showed what Rangers had been missing. The former Manchester United youngster did the simple things and did them with a real authority; winning the ball back and distributing possession tidily in the centre of the park.
It was a far cry from that ill-fated performance against Hearts where he was required to drive forward from deep, attack as much as defend. If Crooks has a future at Ibrox under the new manager, let’s hope he at least allows him to do what he does best.
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