MARK WARBURTON insists Rangers will prioritise Jordan Rossiter’s long-term wellbeing as he looks to return to full fitness at Ibrox.
The midfielder has made just six appearances for the Light Blues this season and has suffered a series of injury setbacks in recent weeks.
Rossiter made the switch north of the border from Liverpool in the summer and caught the eye in his first few outings for Warburton’s side.
But his progress has stalled as he has been unable to return to match fitness and there is no date yet set for him to turn out for the Gers once again.
Warburton said: “It’s concerning when I read inaccurate reports about Jordan Rossiter.
“The boy lives and breathes football. Speak to Jordan and it’s all he lives for.
“He has had niggling injuries and we have to find out the root cause of them, simple as that.
“He has a fantastic future and when he plays for Rangers he will be here for years to come.
“He is a top young talent and fans will be excited when they see him properly. They have seen him six times and like that they see.
“He is more frustrated than anybody it hasn’t been more, let me assure you of that.
“But he can’t come back for two or three weeks and break down. Or three or four weeks and break down again.
“We need to get him to a position where he knows he is fit and well. He is 19-years-old, a young athlete and we have to get him right.
“People talk about him in a derogatory manner about Jordan. No one loves playing football more than Jordan. To see the boys going out again this morning just kills him.
“He is 19 and wants to play, but hopefully he has 15 years ahead of him or more and we have to make sure those 15 years happen.”
The capture of Rossiter was a significant coup for Warburton in the summer as he quit Anfield to make the move to Ibrox.
The Scouser earned rave reviews as he made his way through the Reds ranks and he turned out for England at the Under-19 European Championships.
And Warburton is frustrated Rossiter hasn’t been able to showcase his talents in Light Blue so far this season.
He said: “He played in the summer for England and I spoke to Aidy and the staff and he was their best player, he was magnificent for England.
“He did a great job, he played 90 minute games and in the games he played for us he looked fit and strong.
“Delighted with him and we know what we have got in terms of quality and potential going forward. Right now, it is a frustrating period for everyone going forward.
“The medical team will get him right, our job and commitment is to get him right. There is nobody more frustrated than Jordan.
“If he is fit and well in two weeks, fantastic. If he is longer, it is longer. We will do what is right to get Jordan fit for the long term.
“The injury is private to the club, obviously, but right now the only factor is that he wants to play football and our job is to get him fit and well.
“That is the job, to get to the root cause of it. The human body is different for everyone. It is frustrating and we have got a lot of people that are looking at it for all the players.
“Josh Windass had niggling injuries, why? Different training regime to what he is used to maybe. Matt Crooks is the same.
“We look at every individual player and get to the problems.”
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