Making the step up from academy football to being a first team regular at Rangers is never easy.
In recent seasons, players like Alex Lowry, Kai Kennedy and Josh McPake have all struggled before leaving behind thoughts of being an Ibrox favourite.
Another approach that has been taken is by signing players on the fringes of players in the Premier League.
Calvin Bassey is the obvious example, with Dujon Sterling also proving that there is talent available across the border for minimal outlay.
It doesn’t always work out though as one player who promised much at Rangers but is now without a club proves.
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Jordan Rossiter faces uncertain future after contract expires
Signed in 2016, Jordan Rossiter was a genuine coup.
Having captained Liverpool at youth team level, the England age group international was highly sought after and had made an impression on their first team too.
After breaking into the senior set-up, Robbie Fowler couldn’t help but draw a comparison:
“Jordan Rossiter. Big shout, but potentially a young Stevie G. He’s a very good player.”
In two years, Rossiter barely kicked a ball for Rangers due to a calf issue that nobody seemed to be able to get to the bottom of.
Fully fit when Steven Gerrard arrived, it seemed like an obvious success story, only for things to not work out as many predicted.
Where is Rossiter now?
At 28, Rossiter has barely played 150 games and most of them have been in League 1 in England.
Undoubtedly talented, but he just hasn’t been able to stay fit and prove how good a player he can be.
Even this season, playing more than he has ever done in a season, Rossiter has found himself in the National League on loan at Oldham Athletic from Shrewsbury Town, miles below the level that many expected for him.
With 38 games under his belt, he has at least shown that he has a new found resilience that was previously missing.
As seen with the case of Brandon Barker though, it doesn’t take much to be forgotten about.
