Glenn Middleton is struggling out on loan at St Johnstone and looks unlikely to play for Rangers again.
When Middleton burst onto the scene during the 2018/19 season, there was plenty of excitement.
He wasn’t quite a homegrown talent, having been brought to Rangers from Norwich City, but he had spent time in the club’s Academy before making a splash at first-team level.
Steven Gerrard appeared to be a big fan and he fielded the then teenager in the Premiership, Europa League, Scottish Cup and the League Cup, with Middleton racking up 28 appearances, most of which came during the first half of the season.
Often deployed on the left wing, he showed pace and trickery, as well as an eye for goal.
However, despite no doubt playing a role in the five-year-deal handed to the Scotland youth international in October 2019, Gerrard soon seemed to change his mind on the player.
He barely featured during the second half of the campaign and then unsuccessful loan spells at Bradford City and Hibs followed.
Middleton only played once last season, in a League Cup tie at Falkirk, before spending the second half of the campaign at St Johnstone.
He scored some big goals during his first stint in Perth, netting a winner against Ross County that secured a top-six finish and whipping in a brilliant free-kick in a Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren, a competition Callum Davidson’s side went on to win.
His performances weren’t deemed enough to get him back involved at Ibrox, though, and when he rejoined the Saints in August on a season-long loan deal, he surely knew that he would need to produce something spectacular at McDiarmid Park if he was to have a future back at Rangers.
Unfortunately for the now 22-year-old, that hasn’t happened.
Middleton unlikely to play for Rangers again
He’s played regularly for the Saints, often up front or as a second striker rather than out wide, but he’s struggled to make tangible contributions.
In 24 appearances across all competitions, he’s scored just one goal and notched only two assists.
His only goal came in a League Cup tie against second-tier Arbroath back in August and he only has one assist to show for 19 Premiership outings.
Middleton puts plenty of effort in for his loan club. In fact, he was even applauded by a group of otherwise angry fans when leaving the pitch after a shock Scottish Cup defeat at Kelty Hearts last month.
But the end product has been missing and unless something dramatic happens over the final months of the season, this will go down as another disappointing stint away from Ibrox.
He is contracted to Rangers until the summer of 2023, but it’s likely that the club will try to offload him this summer and a permanent exit may well be the best solution for all parties.
Meanwhile, a former Rangers striker looks to be reviving his career overseas.
