OPINION
Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack has not made 35 appearances in all competitions this season for nothing – his performances have firmly warranted him being in Steven Gerrard’s good books.
The 27-year-old has been one of the Gers’ most consistent players this season and he has been somebody who has stood firm despite the mixed campaign the club have had.
That is why it will be a major cause for concern that he was so poor in the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
He was a complete shadow of the player that he usually is, somehow he passed the ball straight to the Dons’ Connor McLennan, then he allowed Sam Cosgrove to score and keep the Gers at bay.
There must be something in the air this afternoon, as this is so unlike Jack, and this will no doubt worry Gerrard just a little bit.
He is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park, but he was overran by the opposition, who essentially played him off the field.
This is why he must be ruthlessly axed for their next game against Hibernian, as this outing simply was not good enough from Jack – such horror shows are the one thing that is not needed from players like him in the season run-in.
What caused this rapid decline in form remains to be seen, but seeing as Gerrard also has the likes of Steven Davis to call upon if necessary, dropping Jack for their next game should not be too much of an issue.
The manager does not need such liabilities on the pitch, and it was just this afternoon that Jack happened to be the worst out of a rather bad bunch.
It may be a harsh way to treat a player who has been a reliably performer for most of this season, but Gerrard needs to do what is best for the team – and quickly.