Rangers fans were surprised to see injury-stricken Jordan Rossiter make the starting line-up against Hamilton on Sunday.
It’s his first start since the 5-5 draw against Hibernian on the final day of last season and only his 13th appearance in a Rangers shirt.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who arrived from Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2016, has bags of talent but has had his career blighted by injury.
And fans were watching through their fingers today as he played on Hamilton’s plastic pitch, but cautiously optimistic after a solid first-half.
Some fans said he was the only player that looked interested while others said what a player he would be if he could stay fit.
Here are the best reactions from Rangers fans to his first 45 minutes back today:
Every time Rossiter has the ball. pic.twitter.com/eZbXa9i1sD
— Lux (@HelloitsLux) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/EuanG1872/status/1053990168909234176
Rossiter has saved us a few times from being caught out. Far too slow on the ball
— Birmingham RSC (@RSCBirmingham) October 21, 2018
If only Rossiter could stay healthy.. what a player he could be.
— Daniel ?? (@DanielM71191630) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/IbroxViews/status/1053992896662249472
https://twitter.com/jamiermcintyre/status/1053992824457302016
Lethargic. Only midfielder showing any work ethic so far is Rossiter. Coulibaly anonymous and Ejaria not looking up for it so far.
— Will Sharpovich (@WillSharp222) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/TFRM/status/1053989255347953664
https://twitter.com/samjsneddon1872/status/1053989221210435584
Wee Rossiter is defo gonna give Gerrard a headache, he's winning almost everyone of his tackles and interceptions! I hope he can stay fit and get his career back on track! @RangersFC #watp
— Greg mcmillan (@gmcmillan1) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/grantse1989/status/1053987680739119105
COMMENTARY
It was a double surprise to see Rossiter make his comeback against Hamilton on Sunday. The first was seeing him on the line-up at all after his injury problems. The second was that Steven Gerrard would risk him on a plastic pitch at the SuperSeal Stadium. However, he looked pretty sharp early on and if Rangers can keep him fit then they’ll have a real player on their hands – and it will feel like a new signing. Rangers fans were excited when they signed Rossiter but that has slowly turned to resignation, with many fans thinking his Rangers career was never going to get started. He’s under contract until 2020 but you have to think that he won’t get too many more chances to prove himself at Ibrox. He got through the first 45 minutes here okay and that’s a big boost. He’s bound to be rusty – he’s only made 13 appearances in over two years – but this is a big and important step back for him today.