Rangers should keep Jon Flanagan despite his recent struggles

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Whilst Steven Gerrard did not lean on his past Liverpool connections too much after becoming Rangers manager, he did use them to his benefit at times. The Ibrox boss lured both Ryan Kent and Ovie Ejaria to Glasgow in the summer.

He also signed a former Liverpool team-mate who had fallen on hard times in recent years. It was not long ago that Jon Flanagan was looking like a future England international full-back. However, severe injury and problems off the pitch soon scuppered those ambitions.

But with Rangers not exactly blessed at full-back cover, Gerrard gave his old pal a chance in the summer.

“He has settled into the dressing room like a duck to water. The players love him. He’s that type of character, very infectious.

“He’s done what we expected. We brought him here to be solid. He is a competitor. Positionally, he is exactly where you want him to be. And he’s one of the good guys – when the going gets tough he will stand up for you.”

– Steven Gerrard shortly after signing Flanagan

However, it has not been plain sailing for Flanagan. With the likes of James Tavernier, Borna Barisic and Andy Halliday present, he has found regular football hard to come by. In fact, he has not even been included in Rangers’ last four matchday squads and has played just one minute of league football since mid-December.

With one year left on his two-year deal, Rangers could easily decide to ditch Flanagan in the summer.

However, he is certainly worth keeping around. Gerrard knows the player well and clearly trusts him, otherwise he wouldn’t be at Ibrox. Then there is his versatility. Flanagan seems equally happy at right or left back and that is a trait that can not be underestimated.

Flanagan has struggled for form at Rangers but the club should still keep him around. Because in an emergency, he is quite the player to have in reserve.