OPINION
Rangers enjoyed a bright summer transfer window with plenty of their new signings already playing their part in the Light Blues bringing some success to Ibrox.
However, one man who is not playing any role this season is striker Umar Sadiq, the loanee from Roma firmly out of Steven Gerrard’s plans right now.
Three appearances, which total 26 minutes of action, is all that the Nigerian international has under his belt so far, with the 21-year-old appearing to fall well short of expectations in training, thus meaning he is not trusted to play any sort of part in the first team.
It would be a shock to see him feature any time soon for the Gers, but Gerrard has hinted that with Kyle Lafferty ruled out of Sunday’s clash with Hamilton on technical grounds due to his withdrawal from international duty, that someone else will be given the chance to fill the void.
As quoted on Rangers’ official Twitter account, he said: “It’s a shame to miss Kyle Lafferty as he has been in good form but we respect Northern Ireland’s decision and we move on. It’s an opportunity for someone else on Sunday.
??SG: It's a shame to miss Kyle Lafferty as he has been in good form but we respect Northern Ireland's decision and we move on. It's an opportunity for someone else on Sunday.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) October 19, 2018
With no other recognised strikers in or around the first team squad – the likes of Eros Grezda having filled in for club and country but better suited to a wide role – the only option of a like-for-like swap is Sadiq, and it could well be his last chance to forge any sort of career at Ibrox.
Opportunities like this will not present themselves often to the young hitman, with Lafferty and Alfredo Morelos almost guaranteed to be the pair who are selected week in, week out, and as such the Roma man needs to snatch it with both hands – or potentially see his future slip away from him.