Rewind to only six months ago and it felt like the world was the oyster of Rangers winger Ryan Kent.
Amid £25m valuations and talk of him being the most talented player in Scotland, the 24-year-old added goals, assists and an increasing consistency to his game we’d never seen before.
It was a stellar season for Kent in a campaign of stellar seasons as the ex-Liverpool winger etched his name into Rangers history by securing 55.
Now, it is Kent who once again finds himself as the centre of attention in the quest for 56, but not for quite the same reasons.
The winger has looked a fraction of the blistering, tricky, relentless presence who helped drive home an unbeaten campaign last season.
Instead, the undoubtedly talented forward has looked uneasy, unsure, unconfident and, to be quite honest, unfit for purpose.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard appeared to have enough by hooking the once-talismanic forward at half-time with the Gers one man down against lowly Armenian’s Aleshkert in the Europa League.
This is a genuine first and something which is decidedly rare in Gerrard’s tenure; unless Kent was injured then reading between the lines, it appears a big statement.
The Ibrox gaffer has since thrown his weight behind the winger who he claims has “always been a top performer” for him.
So what’s the issue? How has a player who scored 13 times last season yet to set the heather alight this campaign?
The entire team is yet to get its engines revving and the Ibrox side have been hurt by several key absences, namely Glen Kamara, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack.
But speaking after the Alashkert result, Gerrard talked about needing players who are “all in” to make a statement and “kickstart” the season [Rangers].
As the transfer window prepares to get hectic over the next 10 or so days, those murmurs of Leeds United continue to surround the winger.
The Athletic reported that the player has a £20m release clause and claimed that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa remains a keen admirer.
If the Elland Road club won’t meet Rangers’ valuation, Kent will remain a Rangers player, but perhaps a spell out of the side until this is settled one way or another can recalibrate the forward.
Whilst Leeds links persist, one report claims that there is a £30m reason why the Premier League side won’t pounce this window.
