Exciting Rangers loanee Josh McPake was benched again on Tuesday night as he continues to struggle to make his mark at Morecambe.
McPake is a very highly rated young winger who signed a contract extension until 2024 in the summer following an impressive stint in EFL League Two with Harrogate Town.
The Scotland youth international, who Harrogate boss Simon Weaver described as having ‘a lot of ability’, was then quickly shipped out on loan again, stepping up a division to join newly-promoted Morecambe.
He started well, netting in a friendly against Premier League side Burnley, but his pre-season was cut short by an ankle injury and his playing time has been limited ever since.
After returning to fitness, he started three league matches in a row but he’s only seen 24 minutes of League One action in the past month.
On Tuesday night, he was an unused sub for the third time in five League One matches as the Shrimps defeated Lincoln City 2-0 at home.
McPake hasn’t been totally idle, as he played the full 90 minutes of a 1-0 defeat to Everton U23s in the EFL Trophy a fortnight ago.
However, things aren’t really going the way he or Rangers hoped they would be.
Part of the point of a loan spell is learning to deal with challenges and disappointments, but given that the 20-year-old has a January recall clause in his season-long deal, the Gers may consider bringing him back to Ibrox in the winter window and sending him elsewhere if Stephen Robinson doesn’t start giving him more opportunities.
Morecambe travel to Wycombe in the league on Saturday but McPake is perhaps more likely to be handed his next chance in an EFL Trophy clash against Hartlepool United three days later.
McPake is a product of the Rangers Academy and there are a number of other promising youngsters currently in the setup, with David McCallum praising three players in particular following a convincing UEFA Youth League win over Hammarby.
