Ross McCrorie’s form in recent weeks has been a welcome boost to Rangers, but it should also put to bed talk of a Greg Docherty return.
It’s almost been a trend this season. Whenever some of the loan players from Rangers have shown something, an element want them back at the club. This is despite the fact that they wouldn’t be getting a game if they were currently around.
You can put Docherty in that bracket too. Maybe he would’ve gotten a few games here and there given Rangers’ injury woes, but he wouldn’t have featured consistently.
Despite that, many still claim that he would’ve made a good impact had Rangers brought him back for the second half of the season. Fortunately for him and Rangers, however, another youngster has stepped up to the plate massively.
All of a sudden, McCrorie is starting to look like a main-event player at Ibrox once again.
Ross McCrorie looks reborn in recent weeks
A player reborn after a spell on the bench, he’s showing some real appetite in the midfield. He won all six of his aerial duels against Celtic at Ibrox on Saturday. Added to that, he was constantly on the Celtic midfielders’ tails whilst showing great drive going forward.
Since coming back into the side, it’s as if he’s turned from a defensive midfielder into a box-to-box one. Yet another example of a player who’s evolved under the Steven Gerrard regime.
In an incredible turn of events for McCrorie, who’s now made 18 appearances this season, he’s one of the first names on the team-sheet. He’s managed to leapfrog Lassana Coulibaly in the pecking order, whilst Ovie Ejaria is no longer around.
Beside Ryan Jack and just behind Scott Arfield, Rangers’ midfield found its perfect balance against Celtic. McCrorie is now vital to that after a long period of wondering whether he would ever get back into the side again.
He’s filled that gap many imagined Docherty as covering upon his return. As it stands, however, there’s just no need for him to come back – especially now that McCrorie is showing some real evolution in his game.
It’s been a great week for Rangers, and Docherty should just enjoy watching it for now.
