McInnes must sanction loan exit for Rangers summer signing after latest snub v St Johnstone

Derek McInnes has never been shy about making tough calls, and another one is landing on his desk. After the latest snub in the St Johnstone game, one of Rangers’ summer signings looks increasingly like a man without a role, and the sensible move for everyone is a loan exit when the window reopens.

Rangers were busy in the summer, with McInnes adding a string of new faces to a squad he inherited rather than built. That kind of rebuild inevitably produces winners and losers. Some signings hit the ground running and become automatic picks. Others, for reasons of form, fitness or fit, find themselves stuck on the fringes. Being left out once is a tactical decision. Being left out repeatedly, against a side like St Johnstone, is a message.

The player is not the problem here, and neither is the manager. Football is full of signings who simply don’t land in the right system at the right moment. But sitting in the stands or on the bench week after week helps nobody. Match sharpness fades, confidence drops and the player’s value shrinks with every game he doesn’t play.

A loan solves most of that. A spell at a club where he’d start regularly would let him rebuild rhythm and prove what he can do, while keeping his Ibrox future alive. For Rangers, it frees up a squad place and avoids paying a serious wage for someone who isn’t in the matchday plans.

McInnes should also consider the dressing room. Players watch how a manager treats those on the outside, and clear, honest handling of the situation builds trust. Sanctioning the loan shows he’s managing the squad with purpose rather than letting things drift.

The January window offers the natural opportunity. If McInnes is serious about shaping Rangers in his own image, this is an easy decision to make, and the sooner it’s made, the better for everyone involved.