Alex Rae reckons Borna Barisic is struggling to make the grade at Rangers because he cannot cope with the weight of expectation in Glasgow.
The 26-year-old has failed to make an impact at Ibrox since his £2million move from Osijek last summer.
Barisic was one of three signings from Croatia in 2018, alongside Niko Katic and Eros Grezda, but the left-back has found himself on the outside looking in.
Jon Flanagan and Andy Halliday are both ahead of him in the Rangers pecking order and Steven Gerrard hasn't included him in the starting XI since a up and down display against Kilmarnock on the opening day.
And Rae has offered a scathing assessment of a player who has struggled mightily to nail down a starting berth.
He told BT Sport: "Barisic has really struggled, he's struggled to cope with the weight of the badge.
"I think it is too big for him and it may be a case of having to ship him out."
Chris Sutton asked Rae to clarify his comments: "Do you think the club is too big for him?"
Rae replied: "You know Chris, players who come to Celtic and Rangers can tend to struggle. He's struggled to cope.
"I watched him down at Kilmarnock the other week and he struggled.
"He's been given an opportunity this campaign, after failing to hit the heights last season, I think he's got a long way to go to impress everyone at Rangers.
"Barisic is struggling to keep up to speed."
Fellow panelist Stephen Craigan then had his say and he's also been puzzled by the Croat's reduced role.
He said: "I tell you what's strange. He wasn't on the bench against East Fife he was on the bench and Andy Halliday started.
"He was then on the bench against Legia Warsaw and Andy Halliday wasn't involved at all.
"I don't know what Steven Gerrard's thinking is but it's very confusing from the outside looking in."
Gerrard, however, has named Barisic in his starting XI to face St Mirren in Paisley today.
