Jackie McNamara believes that the jury is still on Rangers-bound attacker Greg Stewart, who is reportedly edging closer to joining the Ibrox giants.
Birmingham confirmed on Thursday that the 29-year-old, who is currently on loan at Aberdeen, will be released once his contract at St Andrew’s expires in the summer.
Football Insider has reported that Stewart has agreed personal terms to join Rangers in the upcoming transfer window, and although McNamara recognises that the attacker has some talent, he worries about the pressure that comes with moving to Ibrox and how social media can play a role in making or breaking a player.
“Stewart didn’t make it at Birmingham down south but did better at Kilmarnock at the start of the season,” the ex-Celtic player told Football Insider. “He has certain attributes like a great left foot and an eye for goal.
“Time will tell if he can do it Rangers. It’s the ability to do a job first and foremost, and then whether their character is mentally strong enough to handle the Ibrox spotlight, especially where social media and things like that are concerned.”
OPINION
Stewart had a good time at Kilmarnock in the first half of this season when Steve Clarke played him primarily as a striker, but since a new loan deal was struck with Aberdeen in January, the attacker’s form has notably dropped. It has not helped that Derek McInnes has played Stewart in what seems like every attacking position there is, but there have to be doubts about whether or not he is good enough to play for Rangers. Steven Gerrard has had a mixed bag of signings since he took charge at Ibrox and it remains to be seen whether Stewart will be among the successes or the failures. Rangers fans will be hoping it’s the former, but he might be lucky to even get a game for the Light Blues next term with the amount of players that the Gers have that play in similar positions to the Ibrox-bound attacker.