Rangers need to stick with Borna Barisic through shaky patch

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Rangers defender Borna Barisic has had a mixed first season with the club since he joined in the summer, where he’s gone from a quality full-back to a possible weak link.

The 26-year-old left-back arrived to help fill a void in the backline and started exceptionally well for the Gers in the early stages of the seaason.

He has been defensively solid at times and it’s his attacking qualities that can make him look like a perfect modern day full-back.

But the Croatia international has not quite been at his best since he returned from injury and been vulnerable with his back to goal.

Rangers have arguably their biggest game of the season in a Scottish Cup fifth round replay on Wednesday night and manager Steven Gerrard should stick with out-of-form Barisic.

The importance of the cup tie has been cranked up after slipping eight points behind leaders Celtic in the league and also being eliminated from Europe.

There may be a temptation to recall versatile ace Andy Halliday to defence, but the long-term solution to left-back should still be Barisic.

He’s proven that he’s got the qualities to succeed at Ibrox and he’s involved in the international squad now for the World Cup runners-up.

The left-footed ace has four assists in 16 games for Rangers and that number should rise when he gets his confidence back, which is less likely to happen if he’s axed for a huge fixture.

Barisic provides much more going forward than Halliday and he needs to try rekindle his early season form.