Lee McCulloch predicts first-team return for forgotten Rangers youngster

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Former Rangers ace Lee McCulloch believes Glenn Middleton can get back into the Rangers first-team starting XI before the season is out.

He was back amongst the substitutes for the most recent Premiership match with Motherwell, but before that Middleton had made just one appearance in 2019 – a 32-minute cameo against St. Johnstone in February.

It has seemed as though manager Steven Gerrard has attempted to protect Middleton, who really impressed in the first half of the season.

He has been back with the reserves in recent months where he been trying to impress, and McCulloch reckons he has it in him to earn a recall.

He wrote for The Evening Times: “I do think he is a real talent and he will only get better through time. It is good for him to have first team minutes under his belt this season and this whole campaign will certainly stand him in good stead.

“Rangers aren’t going for the title anymore and they should secure second place so there might be a chance for Steven to give the likes of Glenn a run of games.

“He has shown he has got that mental strength to keep trying and keep going and he certainly has the ability to play in the first team.”

TBR’s view

Middleton can perhaps count himself unlucky to have been sent back to the reserves following his bright start.

He clearly has a very bright future and will surely fancy his chances of more game time from here on in.

Ryan Kent is banned for one more game against Hearts before he can return to the side, so perhaps Middleton’s chance can come at Tynecastle.

He definitely offered more than summer signing Eros Grezda in the first half of the season and as McCulloch suggests, Gerrard should now reintegrate him into his first-team.