Umar Sadiq’s Rangers chances are as up in the air as they’ve ever been since arriving on-loan from Roma.
The Nigerian forward has had a hellish period at Ibrox so far. Making no first-team starts and just a handful of substitute appearances, the striker has brought nothing to the table.
Yet, the stars have aligned to provide him with an incredible opportunity in just two weeks. Rangers will face Aberdeen at Hampden Park on October 28th with both Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty suspended. Therefore, as we all know, Sadiq will be the only striker available for Steven Gerrard to choose from.
But Gerrard has already claimed that Sadiq needs to improve on “everything” if he’s to play a part against the Dons. In general, it doesn’t feel as though the Rangers manager particularly likes what he’s seeing of the Nigerian these days.
Therefore, Sadiq simply has to use this time to impress in training whilst a few of the first-team stars are away on international duty. A significant portion of the Gers squad are still at Auchenhowie however. Regardless, he needs to stand-out.
If Sadiq fails to impress in training this week, he won’t be picked for the trip to Hamilton. If he isn’t picked for the trip to Hamilton, he can forget Hampden the week after.
Not without options
Gerrard may be without a striker, but he’s certainly not without options. Sadiq cannot afford to think that just because he’s the only available striker that he’s a guaranteed starter. He’s done nothing since arriving at Ibrox, and has so far been thoroughly disappointing.
He most likely won’t ever have as unique a chance as this again in a Rangers jersey. Whenever Morelos and/or Lafferty is fit, they’ll always be picked ahead of Sadiq at this stage.
The Nigerian needs to understand just how glorious an opportunity this is for him. If he plays and performs against Aberdeen, he’ll be an instant hero. The last several months would be forgotten about, and Sadiq could start fresh with the supporters behind him.
It’s like a big get out of jail free card for the Nigerian, and he has to take advantage of it. The sounds coming from the manager is that he doesn’t particularly fancy playing Sadiq. If that remains the case come the match against Aberdeen, or even Hamilton, Sadiq can forget it.
He should even take a leaf out of previous Gers stars’ books and come in on any potential day off to impress. Such is the danger of Sadiq’s Rangers career these days, that would be worth considering.
