Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says Glenn Middleton may have a future at the club playing as a left-back after coming on against Falkirk in the Betfred Cup at the weekend.

The 20-year-old replaced Borna Barisic for the final 35 minutes of the 4-0 win on Sunday and, after the game, Gerrard said he was impressed by what he saw of him playing as a defender:

“Glenn has been on loan and had injuries but he has been back within the group for four or five weeks now. He has been working hard and playing for an opportunity. We think he can do left-back, left-wingback or left-wing and it was a strong cameo from him.”

As Gerrard mentions, Middleton has struggled for form and fitness since making his breakthrough in the 2018/19 season. Loan spells at Hibernian and Bradford City didn’t work out for him and the winger had not made the matchday squad for the Gers this campaign until the weekend.

With game time unlikely in his favoured position as a winger, he may have to accept playing as a fullback but, even there, he will have a tough time getting opportunities.

Barisic is the undisputed first-choice while his understudy Calvin Bassey has impressed since his arrival from Leicester City in the summer.