In a piece earlier, we discussed all the senior players currently unavailable for Giovanni van Bronckhorst, naming around 10 presently AWOL for one reason or another, but as one reader pointed out, we omitted a very significant one indeed:

Alex Lowry.

Indeed, this lad, who looks like he could be the next real deal from Auchenhowie, is currently out injured after a horror challenge in a B match, and has been hugely vaunted by both management and fans, and yet, when all is said and done, he’s only made seven senior appearances!

Just 19, Lowry has shown plenty of his qualities in his few cameos, with four game-winning contributions (two goals, two assists), which are excellent stats for just seven matches, regardless of level.

Indeed, that criminal slay on him in the B match was designed to do exactly this, derail the lad in the growing peak of form, as he was starting to look like he could be a serious player for Rangers.

Sadly, it must also be remembered that Lowry did not have a preseason for Rangers at all, that he missed a tonne of football and prep through injury and not being physically ready, and in truth we can’t know yet exactly what his status will be once he’s fit.

So we must temper our expectations for his return, and the reality is unless he’s a freak of nature (not impossible) it’s unlikely we’ll his best form until next year.

October we’d hope to start seeing him pushing for a first team appearance here and there, but then the world cup arrives to derail everyone, so it probably comes at the worst time for a player like Lowry.

But nevertheless, he’s one we look hugely forward to finally getting chance to shine, because Rangers have a major playmaker vacancy, with just one fit at present (Tillman) and Lowry could well make that position very healthy over the next few months.

Over to you Alex.