Andy Dallas’ first-team prospects have never been as high as they are now, but he won’t be featuring anytime soon.
With Steven Gerrard on the hunt for another striker in January, many have pointed to Dallas as the answer to his problems. After all, Umar Sadiq is highly likely to be leaving Glasgow in January. His loan spell has been a disaster, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him head back to Roma.
The Rangers manager wants a replacement third striker, and the spot is up for grabs. That’s led to people putting two and two together and thinking Dallas could be that man.
The truth is, however, that Gerrard needs a higher piece of quality at the moment than Dallas could offer. The youth academy star has managed to put in several eye-opening performances at youth level.
His highlights this season have been a 5-0 win in Hamburg and a 5-1 win at home to St Mirren. Dallas scored five goals between the two matches, with three coming against the Germans.
What people are forgetting, however, is the difference between senior and youth football. Whilst Dallas is impressing down in the under-20s, he desperately needs a loan move before anyone can judge him as having a massive future in Glasgow.
Another loan spell should be the next step
The only spell the young Scot has had in the past was a short three-month spell at Stenhousmuir. There, the striker managed to bag an impressive three goals in just six starts.
He arrived back at Ibrox in the summer and immediately went back into Graeme Murty’s side. Whilst showing promise out on loan, it’s vital the attacker tries a full-season at a higher level than Stenhousmuir to try and provide some real experience for him.
Dallas probably has to work harder than many in the youth academy to get into the Gers squad. Alfredo Morelos is undroppable, whilst no youth player will get in ahead of big-singing Kyle Lafferty.
Becoming third-choice striker is ideal for many as they know Dallas won’t have much of a chance to feature. Any appearances he does make will, suitably, be cameos or in potential meaningless fixtures.
In truth, however, football clubs need three forwards they can rely on to shoot them to success. If Gerrard is to pick Dallas as his third-choice, then he’s deciding to hand it over to the untested.
Dallas may very well be a huge player at Ibrox in the future. Until he’s bulked up out on loan, however, it’s not right to put him forward as third-choice.
