GvB tipped to bring Rangers player ‘out from the shadows’ at Ibrox – pundit
Noel Whelan has tipped Giovanni van Bronckhorst to bring some fringe Rangers players “out from the shadows” after being appointed manager.
The former Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the door has swung open for anyone who struggled to feature under Steven Gerrard.
Of those fit and available at Ibrox, Brandon Barker has been the most notable absentee, having not featured at all this season.
Jermain Defoe and Jack Simpson have also struggled for minutes in comparison to others in their positions.
However, Whelan has insisted there is a chance for the fringe players to make their mark following the change of manager.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “With a new manager, people that might have been out in the shadows a little bit now come into the light again. They can prove their work to a new manager.
“This is like an open door to people, isn’t it? Once the door was shut and closed. This now brings that door wide open for players to come back into the picture and into the first team again and impress a new manager.
“It’s exciting times for the players who are out of the picture.
“They’ll be putting in 110 per cent for him straightaway. That’s on the training ground as well.“
Barker has been named in just one matchday squad this season but failed to make it off the bench.
Meanwhile, Defoe, who took on a player-coach role, has just eight minutes under his belt.
On the other end of the scale, Joe Aribo, Connor Goldson and Alfredo Morelos has all made 20 or more appearances each this term.
In other news, Scottish pundit claims one Rangers star ready to quit Ibrox and reunite with Gerrard at Aston Villa.