Rangers handed Jon Flangan a career lifeline when he joined the club on a free transfer in 2018 but his latest display against Hearts was abject enough to cast doubt over his long-term future at Ibrox.
What’s the word?
Due to a combination of injury problems and simply being out of favour, Flanagan started just his fifth SPFL game of the season on Sunday but was withdrawn at half-time.
Matt Polster stepped onto the pitch in Flanagan’s place for his first full 45 minutes of league action so far this season – a move from Gerrard which could yet represent a symbolic moment in the respective careers of both players.
From Flanagan’s perspective, his half-time omission could be an ominous indication of how far he has fallen in his manager’s estimations, and that’s a sentiment Jordan Campbell appears to agree with.
The Athletic’s Rangers correspondent responded to a comment in his post-match Q&A from a particularly disgruntled supporter, addressing the suggestion that the 27-year-old is “criminal”.
“He was very poor. The whole team were below par but I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t feature again.”
Out of chances?
The former Liverpool man had a mixed maiden campaign at Rangers and found himself benched for 13 SPFL fixtures.
A groin injury sustained near the beginning of the current season disrupted his endeavour to establish himself as a regular in the defensive unit, but his latest showing certainly won’t have aided his cause.
While Campbell does not suggest he has inside information regarding Gerrard’s plans for Flanagan, it is a damning indictment on his standing at the club right now and it seems he could be out of chances to impress.
That the full-back has only been involved in five league fixtures so far this season proves he’s far from an integral part of the club’s defensive unit, and the suggestion from Campbell hints that something major will have to change behind the scenes if he is to salvage his dwindling status.
Perhaps Flanagan’s loss could be Polster’s gain.