Steven Gerrard has dropped a very subtle hint that Jordan Jones may have a future at Ibrox after all – by referring to his injury.

The NI star picked up a knock away on international duty and was not involved with his country’s matches, and instead returned to Ibrox early, but it was his club manager’s reference to the fact he had returned with a small injury which could actually be positive news for the former Killie man.

Gerrard has rarely to never discussed Jones in any context, ever since that rant about his red card at Ibrox. Right or wrong, the NI winger was cast out that day, and has barely featured since, and not just on the pitch, but in the manager’s comments and thoughts.

So this direct reference to his injury, and crucially, his recovery from it, has two implications:

1: He may now actually be getting considered as an option again. It’s extremely unlikely, yes, but it is possible.

2: It’s a signal to interested clubs that he is still fit and available for sale, given they’d not have been able to watch him play for the Ulster lads.

In truth, the latter is more likely, but the former isn’t impossible, and when we ran the story recently about how Stevie and the club were ready to let him go, fan reaction for the most part was extremely supportive of the player and wanted his manager to think again.

It’s not impossible that he has, but we’d have to say that overall, it is more likely that Gerrard is ‘plugging’ him for a sale and telling interested parties he’s fit and available.

But you never know, Jones might still have a part to play.