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This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

Jackie McNamara thinks Rangers midfielder Greg Docherty could be about to get his chance to impress Steven Gerrard in competitive action, as reported by website Football Insider.

What's he said?

Gerrard has moved to strengthen his midfield significantly from the one he acquired last summer.

Arrivals such as Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Glen Kamara and, most recently, Joe Aribo have given him plenty of options beyond already established players like Ryan Jack.

One player who hasn't had a look in is Greg Docherty, who was shipped off on loan to Shrewsbury Town in 2018 without getting the chance under the then new Rangers boss.

McNamara thinks, however, that his return this summer and involvement in pre-season bodes well for his Ibrox future.

As quoted by Football Insider, the former Scotland international said:

"There’s some coming back from injury like (Graham) Dorrans, (Jamie) Murphy doesn’t look too far away – they are quite heavy in that midfield area.

"Docherty’s back as well that was on loan. The fact that he’s brought him back, I think he doesn’t send him out on loan or sell him.

"He’s put another lad out, he’s put (Ross) McCrorie out, so it suggests he’s (Docherty) done well to get an opportunity and be in the squad."

Can Docherty get regular action?

As McNamara notes, the exit of McCrorie to Portsmouth for the season on loan should free up a bit of space for Docherty to at least move up the midfield pecking order.

McCrorie made 31 appearances last season and while you would expect new signing Aribo to mop up the majority of those, the former Hamilton man Docherty should at least be more involved than frozen out on the fringes of the first-team squad.

The 22-year-old made 50 appearances on loan at the Shrews last term, scoring ten goals, assisting ten more and winning their player of the season award.

Clearly a hit in English League One, he deserves a chance to show what he can do for the Gers before any decision is made on his future at Ibrox.