HE is a Red born and bred, a Kop kid who lived the dream and was mentioned alongside Liverpool legends. It is at Rangers where he has to make a name for himself.
Having set out on the road to Anfield aged just six, Jordan Rossiter’s career seemed written in the stars. His journey has taken a different path, though, and now he is looking to stride forward after taking a step back.
He was tipped for the very top as he emerged through the Liverpool ranks and was branded the next Steven Gerrard. His heroes enthused about his potential and his promise.
A move to Rangers last summer offered Rossiter a change of surroundings but, so far, it hasn’t opened new doors as he was forced to spend several months watching the action unfold from the stands.
This term, he has three competitive outings and a handful of bounce games under his belt. After a dark season, he can now see the light.
“If he had chosen to stay at Liverpool he would be part of the first team squad, there is no doubt about that,” Michael Beale, Rossiter’s former youth boss at Liverpool told The National. “He was offered a long contract but he took the chance to go.
“Inevitably, any young player central midfield player that comes through the Academy gets that unfair comparison but I think Jordan will go on to have an excellent career in his own way.
“He is much more like a Roy Keane type player, for me, than a Steven Gerrard. He is more someone that controls the middle, coaxes and supports players around him and he is very strong in how he puts himself across in the game in terms of his tackling, his reading of the game, his positioning and his passing.
“He is a player that really helps the attacking players go and do their bit and if the full-backs get forward he is very good in his positioning in terms of closing the space. He is an excellent young player, one of England’s best, for sure.
“He has been a bit of a forgotten man in the last twelve months but seeing him back now and looking at the fans’ comments, they see him as a potential starter for Rangers and that shows the promise that he has.”
Rangers knew that they were buying potential when they agreed a deal to bring Rossiter to Glasgow but he has so far been unable to fulfil his undoubted ability.
After completing 90 minutes against Dunfermline last week, the 20-year-old admitted that his recovery period had made him mentally stronger for the challenges that lie ahead.
He will be given time to get fully up to speed by Pedro Caixinha this season and Beale believes his attitude and love of the game will be invaluable assets.
“He is a leader, he is a young boy that has got old shoulders on his head and he leads on the pitch,” Beale said. “To see the team maybe not doing as well as they wanted last season and knowing that he couldn’t help them due to his injuries, that would have troubled Jordan a lot in the last year.
“The important thing is that he is back playing now and I expect him to do really well as the season progresses and be a big part of that Rangers team.”
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