Rangers defender Jon Flanagan was hooked at halftime against Hearts after toiling at Tynecastle with his replacement Matt Polster looking a much better option.
The former England international says he is eager to earn a new deal at Ibrox [Herald] but on current form, Flanno will struggle to convince the Rangers hierarchy he deserves it.
With Polster and Patterson eagerly waiting in the wings to impress in the absence of captain James Tavernier, is it just about time-up for the out-of-sorts full-back?
Time will tell here, but you do really struggle to see a way back for Jon in the coming weeks and months.
Part of this may well be down to Gerrard’s insistence to play the traditional, battle-hardened full-back in the same role as the marauding James Tavernier.
Flanagan, 27, has struggled with the expectancy to carry the ball and influence attacks where Rangers have set up in their traditional, narrow 4-3-3 formation.
All of this makes the exclusion of Polster and Patterson – seemingly better options on the ball and in the offensive third of the pitch – even more baffling.
An ex-teammate of Steven Gerrard’s, there’s a touch of the old boys about Flanagan’s role in the last two matches but in both games, his influence has been decidedly poor.
It’s hard to see a way back for the full-back who has now surely tumbled down the pecking order after failing to impress against either Hearts at Tynecastle or St. Mirren at Ibrox.
Is there any way back at Ibrpx for Liverpool’s former first-choice right-back?
