Steven Gerrard pulled a bit of a surprise with his team selection last night.
Ryan Jack started in the centre of midfield.
Of course, his performances this season have ensured, in ordinary circumstances, he is one of the first names on the team sheet.
There’s no coincidence that the solitary league match he missed in February, against St Johnstone, was the only one the Gers failed to win.
However, he was a serious injury doubt going into last night’s match.
After all, earlier in the week, the
Evening Times reported that he was sporting a protective boot after a knock he picked up against Aberdeen required a hospital check-up.
At that stage, there seemed no hope of him pulling on the jersey again by Friday night.
In fact, there were concerns that were it a broken foot, his season would be over.
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Played through the pain
Yet, he’s proven over the course of this campaign that it takes a lot to sideline him.
He has been doubtful for several games this season, but regularly seems to defy odds to take his place.
If Rangers are going to get back to silverware winning ways, they need more characters like Jack.
He brings an ‘over my dead body’ type approach, but also shows composure in midfield.
In terms of the result, it wasn’t to be last night. Yet, while he wasn’t at his best, that had much more to do with those operating in the final third, than with the stoic midfielder.
It’s unlikely he was fully fit, but for Rangers to have a chance of progressing in the Scottish Cup, Gerrard needs his man to dust himself off and go again, on Tuesday night.
