Andy Halliday’s positional change has been a god-send for Rangers, but will it affect his international prospects?
The Rangers star has been the renaissance man this season. Despite looking down and out when Graeme Murty left as manager, he’s been given renewed hope through Steven Gerrard’s arrival.
There’s plenty to like about Halliday’s game this season, but the best thing for him has been changing to left-back. It’s a position Halliday has experienced before at Bradford City and Livingston. You can tell that’s the case also when you see his composure on the ball.
Yet, does it tarnish any future international ambitions? Unfortunately for Halliday, you have to imagine so.
Scotland currently have a burning problem trying to fit Andrew Robertson and Kieran Tierney into their side. Robertson appears to be the first-choice left-back at Scotland, with Tierney not far behind him.
Considering the reputation of both of these players, Halliday won’t ever get into the squad ahead of them. His only hope would be Rangers toppling Celtic domestically and for him to have a blistering campaign as Rangers’ first-choice left-back.
Difficult to see where the caps are coming from
Borna Barisic, however, is likely to eventually power his way back into the side. Any chances of Halliday having a rip-roaring season by playing on a weekly basis are minimal.
Before converting back to his familiar left-back role, Halliday was a holding midfielder. In terms of competition, there’s more in quantity ahead of him in midfield, but less in quality. Halliday could’ve easily made some more Scotland squads when you consider the size of call-off lists that Alex McLeish is experiencing these days.
It shows how difficult it currently is for the Rangers man to get into the squad at left-back, however. Scotland are so keen on both of their current left-backs that they even play one wildly out of position.
Halliday simply won’t be able to get in ahead of either of them unless both got injured at the same time. Even then, it’s questionable as to whether McLeish would select Halliday over the likes of Barry Douglas.
You may argue it doesn’t matter where Halliday plays, chances are he wouldn’t make the Scotland squad. But Ryan Jack has now made several under McLeish from midfield, and that shows if you’re impressing enough in that area then McLeish is happy to throw Rangers players into the mix.
For Halliday? He seems to only be concerned about keeping his Rangers place as opposed to anything else. That’s great news for Steven Gerrard and the Ibrox side.
