Former Rangers midfielder Matt Crooks has labelled his failed Ibrox stint the ‘biggest regret’ of his career [BBC Radio Tees].
Crooks joined the Gers from Accrington Stanley alongside Josh Windass in the summer of 2016.
Windass went on to establish himself in the starting XI but Crooks struggled with injuries and form, making just three first-team appearances before heading out on loan to Scunthorpe United.
Just a year after joining the Gers, he moved on permanently, signing for Northampton Town for an undisclosed fee.
Since then, the 27-year-old has come on leaps and bounds, moving to Rotherham United and then Middlesbrough.
Boro paid a reported £1.1m to snap him up earlier this summer [Rotherham Advertiser] and when expressing his delight at the move at the weekend, he made reference to his time at Ibrox.
“It’s Middlesbrough – I think you probably have one opportunity to come to a club of this size,” he said [BBC Radio Tees]. “In my career, I did have the chance to go to Rangers and I’ve always said that’s probably my biggest regret not taking advantage of that.”
“As soon as I heard Middlesbrough coming in for me, I felt like it was a redemption period coming up for me.
“I want to prove I can do it at a big club like this and perform in front of big crowds and the big fanbase they’ve got so it’s got a massive appeal for me and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Crooks regrets failed Rangers stint
Plenty of Bears will take exception to the idea that Rangers are a similar size to Middlesbrough but supporters will likely appreciate Crooks’ honest acknowledgement that he didn’t do enough at Ibrox.
He didn’t manage to make an impact at all in the Premiership but he has knuckled down since then, impressing everywhere he’s been since leaving Glasgow.
It’s doubtful that he’d have enough quality to break into the current Rangers midfield, but Crooks’ versatility makes him a real asset and he’s already opened his account for Boro, scoring the winner in a 2-1 triumph over Bristol City on Saturday.
In the division below the Championship, a player who left Ibrox more recently blew fans away on his home debut on Tuesday.
