Following on from our assessment of Brandon Barker, next in our series of Rangers Half-Term Reports is versatile attacker Greg Stewart.
When the Gers signed the 29-year-old from Birmingham City in the summer, the reaction was mixed. Some questioned how a player who had contributed very little during a loan stint with Aberdeen, would improve Steven Gerrard’s squad.
However, it would be fair to say that most supporters have been impressed by what Stewart has done so far in Light Blue.
The main problem is that we haven’t seen enough of him.
To date, he’s played just 531 competitive minutes for the club, with that game time spread across 17 appearances. That’s an average of half an hour per outing, highlighting the tendency to bring him on for brief cameos at the tail-end of matches.
Stewart isn’t the quickest player about, nor the most dynamic. He’s not going to pick the ball up, dribble past four defenders and fire into the top corner.
However, what we have seen is a smart and creative player who can pick a pass and who has a knack for getting himself into good positions.
Across his 531 minutes, he’s scored three goals and registered four assists, which averages out at a direct goal contribution every 76 minutes [Transfermarkt].
His display in the 5-0 home win over Aberdeen, in his first league start, was the standout of his first half of the campaign. He scored, hit the post and registered an assist that day, drifting into spaces and getting shots off on goal.
Every now and then he’s had a quiet outing. He wasn’t overly effective against Motherwell at Ibrox in October, nor after coming on as a substitute against Young Boys for his Europa League debut.
Yet, in general, he’s equipped himself very well and within the context of players like Sheyi Ojo and even Scott Arfield, who struggled across the early stages of the campaign, he’s been under-used by the manager.
An ill-timed injury is currently ruling him out of contention and the rise in prominence of Joe Aribo may ensure things continue to be difficult for him in the short term.
However, with the few genuine opportunities he’s been afforded, Stewart has proven himself worthy of the Rangers shirt and should be included more regularly upon his return to fitness.
