Steven Gerrard has made his support clear for Ryan Jack, backing the 34-year-old to be put back into the Rangers side as the midfielder continues to train at Auchenhowie while searching for his next club.
Gerrard, who won a title with Jack at Rangers, responded to a story about the midfielder training with the club by writing: "Put him in the middle. Proper player." It was a short message, but one that underlined how highly he still rates Jack after their time together at Ibrox.
Why Jack is back at Rangers
Jack left Turkish side Erokspor and began training at Auchenhowie earlier in the summer. He has said he is feeling good and working with Rangers' physio and performance staff while also doing gym work. Jack added that the injury is now "pretty much out of the way" and explained that, at this stage of the year, the main goal is simply to stay fit while out of contract.
"I still want to play, I’m still looking," Jack said on Go Radio. He also said he had been away for two years and wanted to come back and enjoy time with his family, while continuing to train hard on his own and see what the next challenge is.
What Gerrard's comment means
Gerrard's remark does not guarantee anything about Jack's future, but it does add attention to a player who has already proven himself at Rangers. Jack won a title under Gerrard and also spent part of his career working with Derek McInnes at Aberdeen, giving him a background that is well known to Scottish football fans.
For Rangers, the situation is straightforward: Jack is a free agent, he is training at the club, and a former manager has publicly urged that he be used again. Whether that leads to a return remains to be seen, but Gerrard's words have certainly kept the spotlight on Jack's next move.
