4 goals in 7 for his country. 36 in 63 for his last club in a strong league.

These already sound like the numbers of the kind of striker Rangers would want to sign, but in fact that’s Cedric Itten’s return for Switzerland and St Gallen.

And yet, the Rangers move has failed horribly for the likeable forward. But unless the club pays him off ala ‘mutual consent’ as is frequently the resolution for these situations, he’s not going anywhere except a loan in the summer.

Contracted to 2024, Itten is a classic goalscorer – he’s not quick, he’s a bit cumbersome, he’s slightly awkward and he isn’t clever for movement.

But what he is is instinctive, sharp, and knows exactly where the goal is.

His CV proves that when he gets chances, he usually takes them. And even during his ‘first’ spell at Ibrox, we could see evidence of that. Sure, league wise he only ever scored against Motherwell, for some bizarre reason, but he also bagged goals in the UEL v Poznan and Antwerp.

This is not the work of someone rotten.

But on his return to Ibrox, having gone through hell with Furth in Germany, his confidence is spent. That goal instinct is gone, that sharpness along with it.

Now he looks a shadow of the striker who could do a job before.

Will he leave? He isn’t in Rangers’ plans except for rotation, and even at the weekend he could only manage a brief cameo.

Itten needs to be supported, needs to have fans’ backing, and of course, he isn’t even in the UEL squad so he can’t bail us out v Leipzig re: striker shortage.

We always liked him, but it’s probably better for everyone concerned if he finds a new employer come the summer.