OPINION
When Jermain Defoe signed for Rangers in January, people were genuinely taken aback.
Despite his advancing years, the striker is so highly regarded that he was instantly earmarked as one of the most impressive acquisitions made north of the border in many years, and was viewed as a potentially huge factor in the Gers blossoming title challenge.
In fairness to the veteran hitman, he has bagged with a promising regularity, hitting five times for his new side already, but there is a sneaking suspicion that he could still be doing an awful lot more.
Those five goals look good on paper, but the reality is that they hide some pretty striking issues.
Of those five goals, one came in a 2-1 loss to Kilmarnock, and three have come in games where the Gers have won by four goals or more.
Just one came in a victory that might be considered tight – the fiery 4-2 win versus Aberdeen in February.
At the moment, the 36-year-old is in danger of becoming a flat track bully, only popping up with the goods in matches where the Gers are already out of sight.
That must be a worry for Steven Gerrard, especially given how tight things have been for the Gers since their return from the winter break.
Part of Defoe’s appeal has always been that he could score goals no matter who he played for, and no matter how acute the circumstances. It’s why he flourished at Sunderland, and why he should have been such a difference maker for the Gers.
Instead, he has lost some of the golden touch, and he needs to rekindle it quickly.