Rangers

Writing on the wall for Sadiq after Gerrard reveal

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Rangers striker Umar Sadiq is unlikely to play for the club again after Steven Gerrard’s dismissive comments at his media conference on Tuesday.

The Light Blues manager dropped a strong hint that Sadiq will have his season-long loan from Roma terminated in the mid-season transfer window next month.

Speaking ahead of Rangers’ Scottish Premiership showdown against Aberdeen on Wednesday night, Gerrard’s comments regarding this season’s previous two clashes with the Dons suggest Sadiq won’t be featuring for the Ibrox side again.

“This is a different game, it’s at Ibrox”, Gerrard said, as quoted by the Scotsman. “We have only had a recognised striker on the pitch for 12 minutes over two games so it will be great to have both Morelos and Lafferty available.

He added of the club’s January plans: “Hopefully we will add a striker but isn’t every team reliant on a top number nine.”

OPINION

Sadiq has a strapping fame –  he is 6ft 3in tall (source: Transfermarkt) and powerful – but lacks the technical gifts and movement required to be Rangers striker. He has not had an abundance of opportunities at Ibrox, just five to date, but he failed to grasp his golden opportunity in the Scottish League semi when the club could not call upon the suspended Alfredo Morelos or the ineligible Kyle Lafferty. He was also ignored when Rangers were reduced to 10 men following Morelos’ sending-off on the opening day of the season.  Gerrard has done little other than to make it plain he does not rate Sadiq and has no intention of ever again handing him a Rangers jersey in competitive match. Expect director of football Mark Allen to be working behind the scenes on cutting short the player’s season-long loan at the halfway point. The club’s summer business was mostly excellent, but the Sadiq deal has proved to be a major blunder.

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