GERRARD TO HAVE SIT-DOWN WITH EX-KOP KID ROSSITER

ONE of the most intriguing sit-downs for the new Rangers manager with his first team will be a reunion with a former Liverpool academy star described as ‘potentially the next Steven Gerrard’.

Jordan Rossiter was a deep-sitting, hardtackling midfielder with a stunning range of passing at Melwood when Robbie Fowler used that description to tip the teenager for a great Liverpool and England career.

The jinxed midfielder, an unused substitute in yesterday’s win over Kilmarnock, has had a horrendous two years in Glasgow through injury since Mark Warburton made great fanfare of the capture of England’s Under-19 skipper.

Graeme Murty said recently his heart went out to the 21-year-old who was suffering ‘physically and psychologically’ from so many setbacks in his Ibrox career.

Rossiter (above) has been nursed along through development squad action in the last month as he seeks to see off the recurring lower back problem that restricted him to just six appearances last season. Nine minutes as a substitute at Ross County in August for Pedro Caixinha was his last piece of action for the first team.

Rossiter was handed a Liverpool debut by Brendan Rodgers in 2014/15 — Gerrard’s final season at Anfield. Now Gerrard will assess the former Liverpool protege’s chances of stepping up for his Rangers revolution.

‘I am looking forward to meeting Jordan and having a chat with him,’ said Gerrard. ‘He’s a player I know very well from our Liverpool days. I understand he’s had rotten luck in his health and fitness.

‘Jordan’s a good player. I need to get a feel from him where he feels his body is at and where he’s at mentally.

‘And have a really good chat with him one-to-one. Then I will gauge what happens from there.’