Chris Burke praying for divine intervention

Graham Spiers

If there is one footballer in Scotland who deserves a real tranche of good fortune it is Chris Burke of Rangers. At 25, unbelievably, this skilful yet accursed talent is still having to prove his worth to people, including Walter Smith, who is considering releasing Burke from Rangers at the end of the season.

The dreadful spate of injuries and illnesses which have afflicted Burke over these past five seasons should not be allowed to obscure his innate talent. He is a highly skilled, elusive and persistent winger with the ball, who long ago shot down the myth that, when fit and healthy, he is too easily muscled out of games. One of the many things which Burke did to transform his game in season 2005-06 was to add endurance and steel to his wiry frame, making him a formidable menace to opponents.

Aiden McGeady has rightly received plaudits over these past three seasons for being a gem of a talent at Celtic, yet I maintain that Burke is every bit the player that McGeady is, perhaps even with a more direct danger about him. If only - for Burke's sake and that of Rangers - this little player could maintain his health and get a run in the Rangers team.

On Sunday at Inverness Burke came on after 62 minutes for Rangers and immediately began to show what old-fashioned wing trickery can do for a team. It would be an exaggeration to say he single-handedly lifted his side beyond Caley Thistle's resolve but, in his half hour on the pitch, Burke showed glimpses of his devilry. He is a player who is persistently hard to rob of possession, who also wins free-kicks in dangerous areas for Rangers.

Having written Burke off for much of his early career, his performances for Rangers in the 2005/06 Champions League campaign converted me. By this point Burke had convinced Alex McLeish that he was a genuine talent, and his play against Inter Milan and Villarreal in particular were of a high quality at quite a rarefied level of football.

Yet repeated injury, such as the freak accident while on pre-season with Paul Le Guen's Rangers in South Africa in July 2006, or the collision with McGeady in an Old Firm game in September, 2006, which required surgery, have marred Burke's career so far. In that context it seems amazing that it is now almost eight years since he made his Rangers debut.

It is not too late for Smith and Rangers to cherish Burke anew and make him a re-born player at Ibrox. When you look at some of the players who currently fill wide roles for Rangers - Lee McCulloch, Charlie Adam, Steven Davis, DaMarcus Beasley, Steven Whittaker - none of them possesses the threat of Burke. There is no longer much of a place for wingers in the modern game but Rangers have one who is capable of being special, if only they can accommodate him.

Family man

TV programmes which record emotional or heart-wrenching family scenes by definition seem built on a dubious premise, but Channel Four's Surviving Gazza documentary on Monday evening was still both highly revealing and tragic. The film covered the desperate attempts of Paul Gascoigne's ex-wife, Sheryl (whom he regularly beat up), and his children to bring their father home and to his drunken senses.

Two things struck you about the programme. The first, as if we didn't already know, was the real psychiatric damage that has been done to the former England footballer (mainly by himself). The second was the genuine love of Gazza's children, especially that of his step-son, Mason, whose unending forgiveness towards him was a parable in itself.

Sadly, after watching this programme, the obituarists will only be readying themselves all the more for Gazza's demise.

Comments

[Danny Mulgrew]

Well if football is all about "could have" celtic "could have" been going for nine in a row this season had it not been for two matches won in the last seconds of the seasons 03 and 06. That does not mean celtic have nine titles in a row.

[GB]

Isn't the whole point with Burke that he COULD have been like McGeady, but for injury.

To suggest that McGeady is the picture of consistency is silly as is the notion that he has done it at international level

[Prairie Bhoy (Chicago)]

Graham, Graham , Graham:

In what alternate universe is Chris Burke = to McGeady? Burke was a fine player but we don't know if he will reach that form again. Even at Burke's best, McGeady just had more talent and skill

You are correct that Burke looks to score more than McGeady. This does not mean that McGeady does not create the chances to score, only that he looks to pass when he should shoot. I always like a guy who has a killer instinct so maybe I will concede that Burke has that.

Lets look to the market to determine the values of each.
If McGeady does go, we don't know what fee he would bring (prior to the credit crunch the figure quoted wsa 8-9 million quid). Lets say 5 million. Do you really believe that Burke would command even half of that when his own team mate Boyd will bring only 3 million? And he leads the league in scoring!

Burke is Derek Riordan with a better hair cut. Deke has a nifty scoring touch too but he isn't McGeady either.

[Kolya]

Speaking as a Hearts fan, I'd love to see Chris Burke at our club. With respect to both the club and the player, I think it'd be a good level for at least a season or two for him to re-establish himself as a regular, first-team player.

[thebunnet]

Graham,

Burke is more comparable with figures such as Brian McLaughlin than Aiden McGeady.

The key to a winger being a viable option is his consistency and willingness to retain his shape as part of the team - both of which McGeady has proven he can do over the last 18 months.

I have never seen Burke play for more than a few five minute spurts in a game, have you?

[Wrighty]

A well timed comparison of the talents of Burke versus those of McGeady as it now seems likely Burke will have more impact before now and the end of the season, especially given that McGeady will likely continue to rot in the reserves as for his imbroglio with his manager.

Gascoigne's plight is indeed a tawdry affair and it was very sad to see the effect his drinking has undoubtedly had on his family. Sad also that he turned up after 2 weeks missing on tour with Iron Maiden, although not entirely surprising... did they not record 'Can I Play with Madness'?

[Danny Mulgrew]

To say Burke is better than McGeady is a shocking statement from such a well respected jurno. It is easy to say Burke could have done this and if he stays fit could do that. McGeady has been doing it and at international level as well. He has also been pretty consistant in his performances. You cannot compare McGeadys talent to the talent of somone who has made a handful of appearences in a few years.