Ross McCrorie could be loaned out by manager Steven Gerrard next season, according to the latest reports.

The 21-year-old only made 15 starts in all competitions last season for the Light Blues, and it is thought that the Rangers boss believes the holding midfielder needs more match time to develop his game.

On the face it, it does make a lot of sense considering the number of central midfielders that the club currently have at their disposal.

After Glen Kamara’s January arrival from Dundee, Gerrard had four players, including McCrorie, who could play in the role, along with Ryan Jack and Andy Halliday.

However, this summer, the likes of Jason Holt (Fleetwood), Jordan Rossiter (Bury) and Greg Docherty (Shrewsbury) will return from their loan spells in the English lower leagues.

While two or even all three may be moved on to pastures new this summer, it still means, for the time being at least, that Gerrard will have seven central midfielders to fill two roles on the pitch.

For that reason alone, sending out McCorie on a loan spell would surely help his development as he needs minutes on the pitch to learn from his mistakes and improve his consistency.

The counter-argument, of course, is that if he is good enough, he should be able to cope with the competition for places in the squad, but Gerrard is likely thinking about the bigger picture.

At McCrorie’s age, the Rangers manager was already a first-team regular for Liverpool. He had made his debut at 18 but was already a firm fixture in the side at 19.

He wasn’t the Gerrard who would lead Liverpool by the scruff of their neck to a Champions League trophy but he was learning on the field in the Premier League.

Those formative years were crucial to his development, and he will see McCrorie kicking his heels on the bench as damaging to his career. The Gers boss has previously said that he believes the midfielder could be a future captain and we should believe him when he says that considering his experience.

Sending him out on loan to begin fulfilling that promise could, therefore, be the best solution. Another Premiership club would be preferable. There are many midtable teams who could do with a good holding midfield player.

Even the loan spell of Ryan Kent can show how a player can develop his game away from their parent club, so why shouldn’t Rangers employ the same approach and make sure McCrorie reaches his potential.