Bursting onto the scene at Ibrox, Lewis Macleod was considered to have the potential to be a top talent for Rangers for years to come.
Macleod elected to switch Govan for Brentford in 2015, as the Light Blues were on the road back to the Premiership, but has endured an injury-plagued six years down south - in which he has also turned out for Wigan.
His latest setback - a knee problem - has him at a crossroads as he considers switching his focus to coaching.
The midfielder, still just 27, was released by League One Plymouth at the end of last season and underwent surgery that will likely rule him out of the entirety of the current campaign.
Without a club, Macleod has a decision to make, and has turned to former Gers physio Steve Walker for help in his recovery to full fitness.
However, Macleod is fully aware he may well have to hang up his boots regardless of how well the rehab goes.
"The injury itself is supposed to take six months to heal, but I'm not training every day with a football team so it's probably going to be six to nine months," he told Lanarkshire Live Sport.
"That obviously takes up a full season anyway, so I haven't planned on looking at a team in January.
"I'm doing rehab at the moment and I'll just need to see how it goes.
"It's different doing rehab yourself when you don't have a club.
"I've been in the gym training with Steve Walker, who used to be the Rangers physio. He's just seeing me whenever he can - usually once a week - to get going again, but I've got no immediate plans to get back playing.
"I'll see how the rehab goes and see what happens, but if it doesn't go to plan I might have to start looking at something else.
"But I won't cross that bridge until I come to it.
"I've not thought that far ahead and I'll concentrate on doing coaching badges for the moment.
"I still love football and I still have a passion for it, but actually playing it, not so much in the last few years with the injuries.
"Whether I'm lucky enough to be back playing next season or looking to coaching instead, who knows."
