Niko Kranjcar hasn’t played for Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers in over a month.
Barring a pretty serious capitulation, Rangers will finish second in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Graeme Murty’s side are nine points adrift of high-flying Celtic – who also have a game in hand – but five clear of Aberdeen in third and they should, in theory, finish in the runners-up spot come May.
Considering that the Gers have won six of their last seven games in all competitions and scored 25 goals during that time, there is every chance that the in-form Ibrox side could all but secure second place in the coming weeks.
And if they establish an unassailable lead over the Dons, should Murty give someone like Niko Kranjcar the chance to earn a new contract at Ibrox?
The Croatia international has been frozen out of Rangers’ first team by Murty since January, but the 33-year-old, who turns 34 in August, remains one of the most gifted players in the squad and could be a big asset next season.
With the incentive of possibly earning a new deal, few would back against the former Premier League playmaker – whose contract expires this summer – of reminding Scottish football of his undoubted class toward the end of the campaign.
Playing Kranjcar would require Murty to drop Josh Windass in that number 10 role, but it could also be viewed as a chance to give the 24-year-old star a bit of a rest leading up to the Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic next month.
If Rangers get to a position where second place is effectively sewn up, there is very little to lose if Murty re-introduces Kranjcar back into the side, but a lot to potentially gain.
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