Rangers should act quickly to terminate Connor Barron’s loan switch to Middlesbrough if the midfielder remains frozen out of first-team action, according to former Ibrox captain Barry Ferguson.
The 24-year-old midfielder was deemed surplus to requirements by Rangers manager Derek McInnes ahead of the campaign. Seeking regular playing time, Barron completed a deadline-day temporary move to the Riverside Stadium for the entirety of the season. His tenure in Teesside, however, has failed to gain momentum. A pre-season knock initially stalled his integration, and while he has regained full fitness to secure a place on the bench in Middlesbrough’s last two Championship fixtures, he has remained an unused substitute throughout.
Middlesbrough are currently flying high in the EFL Championship under the stewardship of Kim Hellberg. Sitting second in the standings with just one loss across their opening ten matches, Boro are pushing hard to banish memories of last season’s play-off defeat to Hull City and secure direct promotion to the Premier League. Yet that collective momentum has come at Barron’s expense, with fierce competition for midfield places leaving the Scottish playmaker on the periphery.
Ferguson expressed genuine disbelief over the situation, stressing that sitting on the sidelines is detrimental to the player’s career. Speaking on the Five Stars Podcast, the former Rangers skipper insisted that the Glasgow giants must explore an immediate recall in January if the scenario does not improve. He argued that taking a player on loan without offering minutes makes little sense for either party. At this stage of his development, Barron requires weekly competitive minutes rather than a spectator role, and Ferguson believes finding an alternative destination would be far more productive than lingering in Middlesbrough’s reserves.
It marks a frustrating chapter for a player who showed immense promise at Ibrox during a rich vein of form under Danny Rohl. Barron established a formidable partnership in the heart of midfield alongside Nico Raskin before a severe knee ligament injury in January halted his progress. Sidelined for two months, he found it difficult to rediscover his rhythm upon returning, eventually leading to his peripheral role under McInnes.
Despite the lack of game time, Hellberg insists the door remains open for the Rangers loanee. The Middlesbrough manager pointed out that several summer arrivals have required extended adjustment periods, particularly those who lacked a comprehensive pre-season program. Hellberg noted that the intense early schedule made it difficult to integrate new faces immediately, but praised Barron’s application and work ethic during the recent international break. While the Boro boss continues to publicly back the midfielder’s quality, the clock is ticking for Barron to make an on-pitch impression before Rangers are forced to reconsider his immediate future.