Rangers’ injury woes in the midfield proves that Steven Gerrard was right in flooding that area.
So far this season, it’s felt as though every midfielder in the Gers squad has been sidelined. Scott Arfield, Ryan Jack, Lassana Coulibaly, Ovie Ejaria, Graham Dorrans, and Jordan Rossiter have all had knocks.
Arfield is the latest one to have a complaint. After training with the Canada side on Monday, he felt a hamstring knock occur. This has led to the Canadian medical team giving him a scan which has yet to have its results revealed. Regardless, it doesn’t look good for Arfield’s availability on Sunday.
For what seems like the umpteenth time this season, Gerrard is going to have to juggle his midfield around. This could see a number of possibilities such as Jack making his first start since his latest injury.
Gerrard has clearly planned ahead for this, and he’s been right to do so. An eyebrow or two could easily have been raised when he brought so many midfielders to the club. After all, there were already a talented bunch at the squad.
The likes of Andy Halliday, Dorrans, and Greg Docherty were all available for selection. Since sending Docherty out on loan, however, the Liverpool legend has continued to bolster Rangers in the engine room.
Should have been a recipe for disaster
So many players fighting for just a few midfield positions always looks like being a recipe for disaster. As it stands, however, the consistent injuries that Rangers have suffered in that area are being eased by Gerrard’s ability to rotate.
Gerrard has rotated between seven midfielders within his three available roles, despite having his clear favourites. Everyone remains on their toes as you just never know when the Gers manager is about to give you a shot.
The injuries that have mounted up could’ve caused everyone a real headache. Instead, the forward-thinking and planning from the new man has paid dividends so far.
It’s well acknowledged that if you want to be competing for trophies, then you have to have a big squad. Now, Gerrard has managed to obtain that, and will be hoping he can keep them all firing as the season goes on.
So far, however, it’s looking like a really shrewd move to add some more bodies into the engine room.
