Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Tue 15 April 2025 16:14, UK

Ross McCausland might be in his final season as a Rangers player following the youngster’s latest decisions in Barry Ferguson’s team.

The 21-year-old has rarely featured for the Light Blues, even despite notching five goals and six assists last term, now only having four Scottish Premiership starts to his name in the current campaign.

Since Ferguson’s highly anticipated arrival at Ibrox, McCausland has remained sitting on the bench for three games while playing the final three minutes and one minute against Kilmarnock and Athletic Bilbao.

However, with an incredibly tough Europa League second-leg tie coming up, the Northern Ireland international was given a chance to impress against Aberdeen on Sunday, 13 April.

This did not go as planned as the winger was sent off before the half-time whistle for two foolish challenges, and Leighton Clarkson and Pape Habib Gueye gave the home side a generous advantage at the Pittodrie Stadium.

While Everton-linked star striker Hamza Igamane and Ianis Hagi helped claw back a point away from home, Tam McManus refuses to believe that McCausland can survive the summer transfer window at Ibrox after his “stupid” red card.

Ross McCausland to depart Ibrox after huge blow v Aberdeen

Speaking via PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show (14 April), McManus said: “I don’t think he’s good enough to play for Rangers. That’s very clear. It remains to be seen if he’ll be there next season.

“He let the team down with two stupid lunges, putting them up against it, and I don’t think anyone had any complaints [about the decision].”

Barry Ferguson to make tough decisions as permanent Rangers manager

Football Insider verdict

Ferguson will be fighting to keep his role at Rangers permanently, which will surely be possible if he can achieve the impossible in the Europa League, with Man United, Lyon and Tottenham still in the competition.

If he can cement himself as the next Gers manager, he will be left with many difficult decisions on the squad ahead of the summer transfer window, and McCausland could be just the first of many exits.

Nedim Bajrami’s performances for Rangers have left most supporters feeling let down, with Robin Propper, Jack Butland and Hagi all being linked with departures at the end of the season.

With the 49ers Enterprises hoping to complete their takeover soon, supporters will be expecting some big-money moves to help catch up to Old Firm rivals Celtic on the pitch, but that will take time.

It has been a very poor campaign in general for the Gers, but after finally being given a chance to prove himself and throwing it away after 40 minutes, it is tough to see a way back for McCausland.