I doubt if many Glasgow Rangers fans expected underwhelming wideman Brandon Barker to have much of an impact in a recent friendly against Lyon in France.
As such, imagine the surprise when the Gers left-winger got the ball and started to create havoc against experienced Champion League defenders.
The Rangers attacker made a couple of outstanding, lung bustling runs against Lyon, showing sensational speed and skill.
Wow – who were we watching?
Was this the same Barker who wasn’t cutting it at Rangers in the SPFL in the 2019-20 campaign?
Following his excellent five-star cameo against Lyon, Barker had to miss the Nice game through an injury sustained five minutes from time.
Barker exploded into the Rangers set-up and looked like a £10 million star performer on the night. Question: Can he produce that form again?
I for one was bitterly disappointed that he wasn’t fit enough for the Nice match.
Hopefully he will be fit for the next Rangers friendly game against Motherwell this Wednesday night.
If he can produce that brand of football in a Rangers jersey consistently, the ex-Man City player would soon become an Ibrox club hero.
Since arriving in Glasgow, Barker has never convinced anybody that he would ever make it as a reliable Rangers starting player.
Was he signed in case Ryan Kent was not leaving Liverpool for Rangers?
A full pre-season appears to have worked wonders for Barker, if his form in Lyon is anything to go by. He has demonstrated pace, power, skill and composure.
Let’s hope his injury is only minor and it doesn’t force him to miss the Motherwell and Coventry City friendlies that Rangers have lined up.
