Steven Gerrard has provided a very honest assessment of Jamie Murphy’s status at Rangers, as quoted by the Daily Record.
Left-winger, Murphy, has had a tough time of it since joining the Gers permanently last summer.
He started the 2018/19 season well, scoring the first competitive goal of Gerrard’s reign, against FC Shkupi.
However, in mid-August, he sustained a serious knee injury at Rugby Park. The ligament damage done that day kept him out for the rest of the campaign.
After months of rehabilitation, he got minutes under his belt in pre-season for both the first team and the development XI. Yet, he then picked up a niggle at the worst possible time.
Furthermore, the club’s signing of fellow left-winger, Brandon Barker, was never going to be good news for the 29-year-old.
Now, Gerrard has claimed that Murphy is still somewhat off the pace and that a loan exit could be the answer.
Rangers wide man Murphy not in first-team contention
“Murph is a unique situation because he’s missed a year of football,” said Gerrard, as quoted by the Daily Record. “We need to help him find the best solution to get back to his peak, his A-game, as quickly as he can.”
“It’s not going to happen overnight. I predict it could take four to six months. I’ll have a chat with Jamie and see what we think is best. But a loan will be one thing on the agenda.
“We’ll give him support and listen to him. If he’s not up for a loan, if he’s not up for reserve games, if he wants to do it through training on his own, we’ll listen and as a group decide.”
Verdict
It’s a little strange that Stevie G has been so open about Murphy’s situation while claiming to have not yet spoken to the player himself.
Yet, perhaps it’s a test of the Scotland international. Clearly, as things stand, the manager doesn’t think he’s up to the level of his new competition i.e Jordan Jones, Jake Hastie and Barker.
Only he and his coaching staff see the players day in day out at Auchenhowie, and as fans, we have to take his word for it.
It’ll be interesting to see which option Murph takes. A half-season loan is firmly on the cards – but to where?
