Glenn out to catch boss’ eye
Glenn Middleton wants to impress new Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst before returning to Ibrox next summer.
The winger is on loan at St Johnstone and nursing an injury that ruled him out of yesterday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden.
But when he gets back fit the 21-year-old is determined to enjoy a productive campaign and catch the eye of Gers’ new gaffer.
Van Bronckhorst was renowned for playing wide, attacking players at Feyenoord.
Middleton could fit the bill and is hoping to get another crack at Ibrox following Steven Gerrard’s departure. He said: “Everyone will want to impress the new boss and it’s up to each of us to prove we’re up for the challenge.
“Hopefully if I’m playing well every week in the Premiership, Rangers will want me back.
“I’m a different player now to when I played under Gerrard in his first season. I’ve shown at Saints that I can play in a few different positions.”
Middleton was given his break by Gerrard when he first arrived.
He was farmed out to McDiarmid Park for the second time at the start of this season after excelling in Perth in gaffer Callum Davidson’s incredible cup double campaign.
And he’ll always be thankful to Gerrard for developing him.
The Scotland Under-21 star said: “I’ll be forever grateful for everything he did for me in that first season. He put trust in me. But it’s about kicking on now.
“I was still young when I first went on loan. But you learn something different every day. And what St Johnstone achieved last season was huge.”
Van Bronckhorst will be looking to do what Gerrard couldn’t and win a domestic cup competition at Ibrox. He’ll be at Hampden today for their semifinal with Hibs before starting work in earnest tomorrow.
Middleton already has a cup winner’s medal and admits his Gers team-mates will be fired up to get their hands on one.
He said: “It’s important for Rangers because of the standards they set. I only got one out of the two medals won by St Johnstone last season.
“But it’s something I can always be proud of.”