Rangers winger Glenn Middleton would consider a return to St Johnstone, the club he is currently on loan at, next season [St Johnstone FC].
Middleton enjoyed initial success at Ibrox under Steven Gerrard, making 27 first-team appearances, scoring five goals and notching five assists during the 2018/19 season.
However, he subsequently slipped down the pecking order before being sent out on loan to Hibernian and then Bradford.
Neither of those moves really worked out and he spent much of the first half of the current campaign watching from the stands, with a substitute appearance in a League Cup tie against Falkirk his only outing.
He joined St Johnstone on loan in January, though, and has since had more joy, relatively speaking.
The 21-year-old made five pre-split substitute appearances and scored the goal that ultimately sealed the Saints’ place in the top six in a 1-0 home win over Ross County last month.
He made his first league start in their first post-split fixture against Aberdeen on Saturday and suggested in an interview ahead of that game that although his future is uncertain, he’d be open to returning to Perth next season.
“I can’t look too far ahead,” said Middleton [St Johnstone FC]. “For me just now, it’s about trying to play in every game for St Johnstone and making a positive impact.”
“I am under contract at Rangers and that means they are in control of the situation moving forward. I’ve no idea what the summer holds for me in terms of going into next season. But if there is an opportunity to come back to Saints then I’d seriously look at it because I have really enjoyed my time here.”
“It’s a great football club and the people in every department are top class. There is a great deal of belief in this squad. We are desperate to win every game. The squad made me feel welcome from the first moment I walked into the dressing-room.”
The contract Middleton is referring to runs until the summer of 2023, but it seems unlikely that he’ll be in Gerrard’s first-team plans when he returns to Ibrox.
The Gers boss described the St Johnstone loan as a ‘fantastic opportunity’ for the Scotland youth international [Glasgow Times], but although his solitary goal was very important for his adopted club, his overall numbers aren’t much to write home about.
Middleton is one of several Gers wingers out on loan right now, with Brandon Barker, Jordan Jones and Josh McPake all playing in the EFL.
