Jordan Rossiter’s Rangers hopes seemed to have been dashed, but for the Steven Gerrard effect.
It’s a phrase that’s perhaps been overused this season – the Gerrard effect. Many pundits and supporters have used it in just about any way they can since the Liverpool icon walked through the door.
But in the case of Rossiter, however, he has been effected more than anyone by Gerrard’s introduction to Scottish football.
Make no mistake, this isn’t just a knee-jerk reaction to him playing one match against Hamilton. This goes back much further than that when you consider the pair’s history together.
For any new manager other than Gerrard coming in at Ibrox, he would have looked at Rossiter unfavorably. A player who had suffered the best part of two years out injured and failed to make any sort of impact. The Livepudlian certainly wouldn’t have been looked upon greatly by a new man.
With the new boss also looking to build his own squad, it’s perhaps fair to say that Rossiter wouldn’t have even been at the club from the start of the season. We even debated whether he was Rangers’ worst ever signing, such is the nature of how things have worked out.
Gerrard, however, knows what the youngster can bring to the table.
His future role?
The Rangers manager has a long history with Rossiter that goes back to their Liverpool days. He knew the value of him when he arrived at Ibrox, whereas most new managers would’ve ushered him out of the door.
You can look at Alfredo Morelos and say he’s matured. You can look at Andy Halliday and say he’s been revived. But you can look at Rossiter and go as far as to say he’s been saved by the Gerrard arrival.
And questions will no be asked about what role Rossiter can truly have in this Rangers side. If he truly has the talent that Gerrard believes he has, then he won’t be settling for a bit-part role like Andy Halliday.
Displacing the likes of Lassana Coulibaly and Ovie Ejaria will be a tough task. Rangers have strong competition in the centre of midfield, and that was even before Rossiter came back to relative fitness.
He showed he was a reliable performer at Hamilton in his first outing back in a Rangers jersey. In truth, in his few appearances so far for the Ibrox club, he’s proved he can clearly cut it.
The Gerrard effect has been well and truly on show with him more than anyone else.
