After failing to make the Europa League squad, is Lee Wallace set to leave Rangers in January?
Steven Gerrard released his 45-man squad UEFA today, and the former club captain wasn’t on it.
It comes as a big blow to Wallace, who was starting to see some time in and around the squad. The left-back also made an appearance against Motherwell, but the Steelmen scored just seconds after he came on.
It doesn’t come as a big surprise that Wallace has been left out, but it’ll be a blow to him regardless. With the likes of Graham Dorrans and Gareth McAuley making the squad having not featured for the club this season, Wallace could even feel aggrieved.
The former Hearts full-back has struggled to recover from a dispute with the club last season. He and former star Kenny Miller got into a rift with the manager during a defeat to Celtic. This led to both men being suspended from the club.
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No place for Lee?
Yet it seemed as though Gerrard did have a place for Wallace in reserve. The move to exclude him from the Europa League squad, however, suggests otherwise.
With Borna Barisic seriously impressing supporters, and Jon Flanagan on stand-by, chances are limited for Wallace.
Rangers could now look to shift him on in January as Gerrard clearly doesn’t see him as needed. The club tried to do so in a player-plus-cash deal with Hearts for Kyle Lafferty in the summer. The Tynecastle club rejected it, symbolising how far Wallace has fallen.
It would, therefore, be no surprise to see the club try and shift him on once more now that he’s fit to play.
Injuries open up places
There was also no place on the squad list for the likes of Jordan Rossiter or Jamie Murphy, both suffering from long-term injuries.
Gerrard had to submit two lots of players to make the list, with a B list full of youth talent. The fact Wallace didn’t even sneak a place on that is a big concern.
For now, Wallace just has to keep training hard and praying he gets a chance. Until then, the situation looks bleak for the former captain.