Mark Hateley has told The Scottish Sun that he feels Giovanni van Bronckhorst may have a ‘trust issue’ with some of the Rangers players occupying fringe roles at Ibrox this season.
The Gers snuck a 1-0 win over Aberdeen on Saturday, as the Premiership giants celebrated their 150th anniversary. Their performance failed to keep pace with the pre-match display, as Jim Goodwin’s side stood strong defensively until Kemar Roofe hit late at close range.
Roofe was one of four substitutes Van Bronckhorst used in the weekend’s clash in Glasgow after replacing Alfredo Morelos. The £4m forward entered the action in the 81st-minute in a double change. Yet it also marked just his sixth league outing under the Dutchman so far.
Van Bronckhorst has rarely relied on Roofe since replacing Gerrard at the Ibrox helm back in November. The forward spent a month on the sidelines from December through injury, but has featured in just five of nine possible league games – starting one – since his return.
Hateley feels Van Bronckhorst may have ‘trust issue’ with fringe Rangers stars
Hateley wonders if events in training are keeping Roofe out of Van Bronckhorst’s Rangers line-up. He also questions why Steven Davis has rarely played of late, with the 37-year-old only featuring for 71-minutes under the Dutchman and is unseen in their last three squads.
The Gers hero also points out how Van Bronckhorst opted against making any substitutions during Rangers’ win at St Johnstone. The Ibrox natives snuck another 1-0 win in their prior match to hosting Aberdeen, but with Glen Kamara netting the sole goal in the third-minute.
“I don’t know what is going on at the training ground and whether he is carrying an injury,” Hateley said. “I don’t really know what is happening with Steven Davis, either. I just can’t comment on that.
“Picking up on the St Johnstone game, he didn’t make any substitutions. That sends a message to me that he might have a trust issue with a lot of the players who are in and around the starting 11.”
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