Greg Stewart is currently on the fringes of the Rangers first team.
The 30-year-old has made the matchday squad for four of the Gers’ first six Premiership fixtures of the 2020/21 campaign, but he’s only been introduced on two occasions.
Both substitute appearances came in the most recent two fixtures against Kilmarnock and Hamilton, as the Gers continued their strong start with two wins.
Yet, on each occasion, Stewart’s introduction was little more than a token gesture.
He made it onto the pitch with only four minutes left against Kilmarnock and was given even less time to make an impact at Hamilton, replacing Kemar Roofe with just one minute of normal time remaining.
The former Aberdeen and Killie man was granted a little longer at Leverkusen in early August as Rangers were knocked out of the 2019/20 Europa League, but he was only subbed on when the tie was lost and didn’t help his own cause by missing a good opportunity in the closing stages.
In general, Stewart hasn’t done a lot wrong during his time at Ibrox.
He signed ahead of the 2019/20 campaign on a free transfer and provided some strong performances over the course of his first season, despite his limited opportunities.
He was the standout player during a 5-0 demolition of Aberdeen in September and scored a brace off the bench against Hearts in December.
Yet, Rangers have since invested heavily in forward areas and he’s just not quite at the same level technically as Ianis Hagi, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Kent, while Brandon Barker’s pace seems to have secured the former Man City youth a spot further up the pecking order.
If Stewart isn’t getting playing time right now, with Jermain Defoe and attack-minded midfielder Joe Aribo out injured, it’s highly unlikely that he will get a run in the side in any of the attacking berths later in the campaign.
As a lifelong Rangers fan, he now faces a difficult decision.
Should he stay to live the dream around the training ground for another season or look to secure an exit before the transfer window shuts?
With his 31st birthday coming up after the turn of the year, playing time may well be the priority.
