Amad’s latest loan snub is a crushing blow

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Amad hoped the weekend’s Rangers v Celtic match could bring redemption after he was subbed at half-time in the last meeting between the two teams.

Instead the Manchester United winger ended up as a spectator. Amad was an unused substitute as Rangers lost 2-1 at Ibrox against their bitter rivals.

Rangers had trailed 2-1 at halftime and so there was plenty of opportunity for the Gers to bring him on to try and change the game.

Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst made two changes on 66 minutes, and declined to make a third.

Rather than bring on Amad with the final substitution, Rangers simply chose not to make the last available change.

This was a crushing indictment of how Rangers currently see Amad right now.

Not ready to make an impact

When Rangers signed Amad on loan, it was with a view to him becoming a vital player for the side. This was shown in the way he was handed the number nine shirt.

Rangers it seemed, wanted more proven quality for the situation they are in, rather than a developmental prospect. Amad is talented, but raw and quite lightweight. His move to Scottish football has not been a good one.

Rangers have now slipped six points behind Celtic and look likely to lose out on the league title. A win at Ibrox at the weekend would have tied them level at the top.

There is still a cup semi-final between the two teams to look forward to, along with Rangers’ Europa League quarter-finals against Braga. But it looks unlikely he will be utilised in those matches.

How Amad’s fortunes could change

This latest snub was a blow for the young Ivorian, but the result could actually play into the youngster’s favour, as Rangers will now have to prioritise.

The league looks to be a losing cause, and cup competitions will take priority. This could give Giovanni van Bronckhorst extra reason to rotate the team.

Amad’s biggest issue is that he just has not had the game time. More starts in the league will help his cause, if Rangers want to keep their first choice starters fresh for the cup competitions.

This loan has not gone well for Amad, but there is still chance to rescue it. If the teenager can end the season on a high, he will return to United in the summer feeling like he is in a better position than when he left, despite his troubles so far.