Former Rangers player Barry Ferguson believes that there is not much evidence to suggest that striker Umar Sadiq will make an impact at the club.
The Gers take on Aberdeen in the semi-final of the Betfred Cup, and with Alfredo Morelos absent due to a suspension and Kyle Lafferty cup-tied, on-loan striker Umar Sadiq is the only recognised forward in Steven Gerrard’s squad.
Ferguson reckons that the 21-year-old has done “little to suggest” he will make much of an impact during his stay at Rangers, and thinks that Gerrard will only throw the 21-year-old into the mix as a “wildcard”.
“Alfredo Morelos is suspended and Kyle Lafferty is cup-tied and that leaves Umar Sadiq as the only recognised striker in the squad,” he said in his Daily Record column.
“However, the on-loan Roma frontman has done little to suggest he will make an impact at Ibrox. Steven could introduce him as a wild card but I reckon he’ll go with the tried and trusted.”
OPINION
Ferguson is right to savage Sadiq – he has done little to suggest that he can make an impact at Rangers. His loan spell does not look like it is going particularly smoothly, and the fact that Ferguson thinks that Gerrard will opt for another option going forward – even though Sadiq is the only recognised striker in the squad – speaks volumes about him. Gerrard clearly does not trust him to take on the responsibility of playing in a cup semi-final, and that is rather concerning for Sadiq. The manager does not look like that he is going to play the forward any time soon, so the bench looks like the most probable option for the youngster. It is a shame, as he clearly came to the Gers from Roma in order to get some experience under his belt – but that does not look like it will be happening any time soon.