Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton has urged current Ibrox centre-back George Edmundson to make the most of his chance in the first team during the injury-enforced absence of Filip Helander.
The Swedish defender is set to be sidelined for several more weeks (as per @RangersFC) with the foot injury that has kept him out since December’s Betfred Cup final, with his centre-back colleague starting in the team’s recent games against Hibernian and Hamilton, having rarely featured prior to this month.
Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton expressed his disappointment at Helander’s injury misfortune but has challenged Edmundson to seize upon any first team opportunity he gets during his colleague’s absence and give Steven Gerrard a decision to make once both players are available.
The ex-Rangers man said: “No one wants to see that, their teammate or anyone get injured, it’s disappointing for the player and the club but this is your opportunity. If you’ve been working hard in training, showing the manager you’re ready, an injury does come up – that’s your chance to get in, it’s about you grasping it with both hands.
“This is possibly his opportunity. He’s done well, come in, commanding, scored a goal, played well. Can he kick on? Can he go and play in four, five, six games in a row at a high level where if somebody like Helander comes back he’s like: ‘No, I’m in charge now, I’m playing’.”
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Hutton is quite right to encourage Edmundson to make the most of any matches in which he features before Helander returns from injury. Connor Goldson has been Rangers’ most-used player this season, playing every minute in the Premiership, while Nikola Katic has generally been Gerrard’s preferred option for the other central defensive place.
However, following a shaky performance by the Croatian against Aberdeen, the manager turned to Edmundson for last week’s game against Hibernian and the 22-year-old repaid that faith by scoring the equaliser in a hard-fought 2-1 win. Alas, his subsequent performance against Hamilton last Saturday drew criticism from a few Rangers fans on social media. The former Oldham defender has had to be patient in waiting for a sustained chance in the Light Blues’ first team, having made only one Premiership start prior to last week and played just eight times for the senior side before the start of February (as per TransferMarkt).
As Hutton has said, Helander’s extended absence has given Edmundson the ideal opportunity to establish himself in Gerrard’s line-up but the onus is on the 22-year-old to perform consistently enough to keep his place in the side even after the Swede regains full fitness – something he hasn’t managed yet judging by the reaction to his display at New Douglas Park on Saturday.
Rangers fans, do you agree with Hutton’s views on Edmundson? Can you see him keeping his place in the side long-term? Join in the discussion by commenting below!
