You get a feeling that it’s a really case of what might’ve been for Ryan Jack at Rangers.
The former Aberdeen captain is one of the club’s longest-serving players, having joined Rangers back in 2017, coincidentally the first transfer window of Pedro Caixinha’s ill-fated Ibrox reign.
But it wasn’t until Steven Gerrard came into Ibrox a year later that the Scotland international midfielder’s game was taken to the next level.
There was a moment when Rangers looked to have finally found their midfield marshal, Ryan Jack a clever, industrious midfielder with an eye for goal.
But since that rapid development under the Liverpool legend, Jack’s Rangers career has been besieged by a series of calf injury problems.
Now, amid major doubts over the out-of-contract number 8’s Rangers future, Jacko could be about to return to play a crucial role in the run-in.
Jack makes return for Rangers B
Ryan Jack returned to the pitch with the Rangers B team as a side littered with Ibrox Academy stars faced Queen’s Park at the club’s training centre.
Jack played 45 minutes for the club in what could be a timely boost for both Rangers’ trophy hopes and for Scotland heading into Euro 2024.
Starting in midfield in the Glasgow Cup semi-final, Alex Lowry also made his return from injury in the eventual 2-1 Rangers victory but played only 30 minutes in the game.
Thompson Ishaka and Findlay Curtis scored the goals for Rangers whilst Tyrece McDonnell netted a long-range stunner for the Spiders.
Speaking after the match, B team manager David McCallum hailed the influence of both Ryan Jack and Alex Lowry on the young Rangers side.
“We brought together a group of players to try and make sure we perform well but also to win the game too,” McCallum told the official Rangers website.
“I look at Alex Lowry coming back in for his first game. We gave him 30 minutes to build his way back into it, which was a pre-planned situation.
“Likewise, Ryan Jack getting 45 minutes. For the young lads to have that experience around them and feel that influence was evident, not only in the game but also the preparation leading up to it.”
The Rangers B team will now face Celtic in the Final of the Glasgow Cup for a second successive season.
Gers and Scotland handed injury boost
Rangers might only have four games to play this season but each of them have significance.
This weekend’s Old Firm clash could be decisive in the Scottish Premiership title race with Brendan Rodgers turning up the heat on Rangers heading into the game.
Whilst the game will come too soon for the Ryan Jack and certainly for Alex Lowry, if Rangers win the match then the clashes against Dundee (H) and Hearts (A) are quite simply huge.
Rangers also have the small matter of the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic on the 25th of May.
If Ryan Jack can get himself back into contention for this match, at the very least, it’ll be a welcome boost to the club’s options in the squad.
Beyond that, with Scotland facing some big injury problems to the likes of Scott McTominay and Lewis Ferguson heading into Euro 2024, Steve Clarke will also have an eye on Ryan Jack’s progress.
The midfielder tragically missed Euro 2020 through injury and could set up one final Scotland hurrah at the tournament in Germany.
Injury has limited Ryan Jack, 32, to only 22 games this season with Jacko’s last appearance coming from the bench in the first leg Europa League 2-2 draw with Benfica.
The midfielder hasn’t been seen domestically since the 3-0 Scottish Premiership win over Livingston in February.