Michael Stewart might’ve failed when handed a trial at Rangers during his playing days.
But the former Manchester United midfielder insists he knows what is required of a player to make the grade at Ibrox.
The outspoken pundit has taken aim at two Rangers stars in particular with Oscar Cortes the first target of a rant on Premier Sports.
Despite the Colombian winger’s record with injuries, Michael Stewart reckons Cortes lacks the mental fortitude to make it at Ibrox.
Michael Stewart slaughters Oscar Cortes
Premier Sports host Darrell Currie had been questioning Rangers’ recent transfer record.
The Gers signed a £4m loan-to-buy for Oscar Cortes despite the winger sustaining a serious injury in the second half of last season.
This campaign the 21-year-old attacker has suffered back-to-back injuries and Rangers have been unable to get the forward fit.
But when Darrell Curries suggested the winger had shown signs of ‘potential’, Michael Stewart had some choice words for Oscar Cortes.
“Darrell, no chance,” Michael Stewart interrupted.
”This is very important because I push back on that ‘he looks like a player’.
”First game of the season he went down at Tynecastle and I remember turning and saying to the guys we were with ‘he’s got a heart the size of a pea’.“
Nedim Bajrami in Rangers firing line
It’s not just Oscar Cortes who was on the receiving end of Michael Stewart’s criticism.
Rangers paid £3.4m to sign Nedim Bajrami from Sassuolo on deadline day in the summer transfer window.
Despite showing some promising early performances, Bajrami’s form has fallen off a cliff and the Albanian international finds himself in the firing line at Ibrox.
Michael Stewart puts Nedim Bajrami into the same category as Oscar Cortes and reckons Rangers have a major problem with both players.
”You can look at somebody technically and go ‘oh, he’s a nice technical player’,” Stewart explained.
”But that’s (a tiny amount) and especially when you’re at a club like Rangers you need players that’ll run through brick walls, players that will make things happen.
”And Rangers have got too many guys that are OK. Nice wee touch here and there but they have zero impact because they have no desire.
”Bajrami is another one who comes into that category.”
