Jordan Rossiter was once touted as being the replacement for the man who’s now guiding him.
A product of Liverpool’s youth academy, there were very high hopes for the young English midfielder.
He was at the club at the same time as Gerrard and was looked at as a natural replacement. He captained the English U18s. Fans thought Rangers had pulled off a real coup when they signed him for a meagre £250,000 under Mark Warburton in 2016.
Unlucky knee injuries have hampered the talented midfielder’s development.
But there is now real hope the worst is behind the 21-year-old.
This young man needs football
Rossiter played 45 minutes for the Rangers reserves against Motherwell yesterday.
It was a big step for Rossiter. At the beginning of the season, the youngster picked up another niggling injury after it looked like he’d finally be a part of the squad.
He played a key role against Hibs in the final game of the season. The youngster dominated the midfield. He even scored a tidy goal. There were flashes of a young Barry Ferguson.
There’s real hope Rossiter can be a top player for Rangers. But he needs game time.
This is his third season at Ibrox, and yet he has only made 11 appearances for the club.
Will he get a new contract under mentor Gerrard?
Rossiter is still young and he is clearly still well thought of.
In interviews, the combative midfielder speaks like someone many years his senior. He’s composed, he understands the game and he really does feel like a player the fans will love.
Every time he’s got started at the club, another knock has come his way. It’s hard to think of an unluckier player at Ibrox. Other than perhaps Marco Negri.
Jordan Rossiter is also two years into a four-year deal. Many think this is his final chance at the club.
It’d be a crying shame if this former Liverpool Academy Player of the Year never quite got his chance due to injury. It’d be a big one too if he moved on and impressed elsewhere after next season.
It’s a big 18 month for Jordan, and under the eye of Gerrard, he must prove not just his fitness, but his worth on the pitch too.