Rangers defender Nikola Katic may be in line for a huge role next term.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has told the club’s official website that he needs defender Nikola Katic for 60 games next season.
The Gers ended their season on Sunday with a 2-1 defeat at Kilmarnock, as Eamonn Brophy’s late penalty handed Killie all three points at Rugby Park.
Rangers finished up nine points behind league winners and Old Firm rivals Celtic, and it’s fair to say that a rotated side was part of the Gers’ flop at Kilmarnock.
Gerrard was without Allan McGregor and James Tavernier, whilst he decided to leave Katic and Scott Arfield out of the side too. Some were confused by that decision after they starred in the 2-0 win over Celtic last weekend, but Gerrard has now offered his reasoning.
Gerrard has admitted that it was his decision, giving them a break as the needs them to be ready to play 60 games next season, even if he’d have wanted them in the team.
“I’ll take the hit for that. Certainly with Arfield and Katic, it was my decision,” said Gerrard. “But, I need Katic and Arfield fresh and ready for 60 games next season,” he added.
That hints that Gerrard sees Katic, a £2million signing from Slaven Belupo last summer (Sky), as being a key part of the Rangers side next season having been in and out of the side this term.
It’s unrealistic for Katic to play 60 games next season after playing 30 this term, but Arfield did play 46, and getting up to that sort of level may well be on the horizon for the Croatian centre back, with Gerrard potentially poised to hand him a bigger role.
One thing to factor in though is that the Under-21 European Championships are this summer, and Katic is likely to feature for Croatia, meaning he may have more mileage in his legs by pre-season – and he’ll be thankful for this brief rest.
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