£20k/wk ace must never play for Rangers again as he wraps title in green-and-white ribbon

John Lundstram told to never play for Rangers again as he wraps title in Celtic ribbon

Rangers midfielder John Lundstram is one of several to have let Rangers down following defeat in a crucial Old Firm clash with Celtic, according to the Scottish Mail’s Gary Keown.

On page 106 of the publication [12 May], Keown picked out both Lundstram and Borna Barisic – two players whose contracts at Ibrox are up this summer – as key men to have not gone down too popularly on the blue half of Glasgow.

Lundstram, signed from Sheffield United in 2021 on a £20,000-a-week deal [Football Insider], endured a nightmare first half at Celtic Park as he turned in an own goal which transpired to be decisive, before steaming through Alistair Johnston to be shown a red card just before the break.

“Lundstram wrapped up the title in green-and-white ribbons there and then. And he should never play for Rangers again,” stated Keown.

“He can go hand-in-hand with Borna Barisic, who has had so many nightmares at Celtic Park in the past and, although he did provide the cross that led to [Cyriel] Dessers’ goal, he was caught sleeping at [Matt] O’Riley’s opener here.”

The derby defeat leaves Rangers six points behind Celtic with two matches remaining, as Philippe Clement is left to pick the bones out of a frustrating end to the season – and to deal with his several out-of-contract players including Lundstram and Barisic.

A final Old Firm to forget for Lundstram?

Lundstram is a proven player in the Scottish top flight, as well as in England with two seasons as a Premier League regular – that’s the top and bottom of it. But his time at Rangers looks to be coming to a natural end.

In real-time view – which sounds almost ridiculous now – the challenge from the midfielder on Celtic’s Johnston looked hard but fair, and as if he played the ball. But it was one of those tackles where you wondered how high on the Canadian’s leg Lundstram landed and just how many studs were raised.

As soon as the VAR referred on-field official Willie Collum to the pitchside monitor, the writing was on the wall. Lundstram had ultimately not only played none of the ball, but also raked Johnston’s ankle as high as his calf.

Whilst the own goal was unfortunate, the tackle was foolish for such an experienced player, and likely fuelled by the moment which put an utterly dominant Celtic side two goals ahead.

Rangers had – contrary to pundit recommendations – sat back and soaked up pressure from Brendan Rodgers’ side, but with 10 men and still chasing the game, Clement’s setup proved unsuccessful. And the challenge from Lundstram wrote off any realistic chance of staying in the title race.

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