Mark Warburton got a lot of things wrong for Rangers, however, his policy of trying to sign young, hungry and talented players on the up was the right one although, in Matt Crooks, it didn’t quite come off.
The towering midfielder has since gone on to have a more than respectable career after leaving Ibrox but was a perfect example of how not every player can handle the pressure required to be a member of a successful Gers squad.
Now 30-years old, it looks as though the one-time Rangers flop is making another solid move as Matt Crooks gets set to leave British football behind.
Former Rangers misfit Matt Crooks is on the move
At 6ft 5inches tall, when Warburton signed Crooks on a pre-contract agreement from Accrington Stanley in the winter of 2016, it looked like a shrewd move.
With a growing reputation as a confident midfielder, his physical presence was also useful at both ends of the park for set-plays.
As we know though, injury and form put paid to any real impression ever being made at Rangers and he left with just three appearances to his name.
Former Accrington teammate, Josh Windass, was the one who would end up making the club a few million.
According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, Crooks is heading for MLS and Salt Lake City.
Currently sitting with five goals and six assists for Middlesbrough, the near 300 appearances that he has made since leaving Glasgow suggests that there were more than just physical issues stopping him from kicking on.
There was one memorable appearance against Hearts when he came off the bench but it was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
As we have seen so many times before in the past, not making it at Rangers isn’t a sign of a bad player but in Matt Crooks, there is the perfect example of how it takes more than just ability.
