Ross McCorie's emotional rollercoaster at Portsmouth - but there's still time for Rangers ace's Fratton Park luck to change

Regret and dismay from sections of the Rangers faithful, who were sorry to see one of their rising stars allowed to leave for pastures new – albeit on a season long loan.

Frustration from Sunderland, whose last-gasp bid to scupper the move failed miserably.

Relief from the Blues that a prime summer target had been signed, sealed and delivered.

A sense of trepidation, no doubt, but a drive to succeed from the player himself.

And, finally, sheer joy from the Pompey supporters as the club pulled off what was described at the time as a ‘significant coup’.

SEE ALSO: 'Different' class' Pompey chief praised for handling of Rangers' Ross McCrorie after coronavirus blow

After all, the then 21-year-old had represented the Scottish giants 31 times the previous campaign, including seven Europa League fixtures and two Old Firm derbies.

Meanwhile, Gers boss Steven Gerrard was keen for the youngster to remain at Ibrox and continue his development under his watch.

What was there not to like about the deal?

Fast forward eight months, though, and you have to wonder what McCrorie’s real thoughts on his move south of the border are now?

There’ll be no regret – this is Pompey after all.

But as he self-isolates in his native Scotland after becoming the fifth member of the Pompey squad to test positive for Covid-19, he’d be forgiven for thinking what’s he done wrong to deserve this season's run of bad luck.

Indeed, having coronavirus – if that wasn’t bad enough – is not the only thing the popular member of the Blues dressing room has had to contend with this term.

McCrorie’s league debut for Kenny Jackett’s side was overshadowed by an 81st-minute sending off.

The resulting one-match ban put the breaks on his fledgling Fratton Park career before it had been given a chance to take off – as did subsequent call-ups for the Scotland under-21 side as they attempted to qualify for their respective European Championships.

Then two hamstring issues played havoc with his bid to establish himself in the Pompey ranks and become a Blues regular.

The injury the right-back/midfielder picked up 40 minutes into the game against Southend on November 5 ruled him out for nearly a month.

And the recurrence which ended his involvement in the game against Ipswich on December 21 resulted in an absence which amounted to 14 games.

McCrorie did not appear again in a Pompey shirt until the visit of Shrewsbury to Fratton Park on February 15.

Since then he’s featured in six of the Blues’ past seven games, with four of them coming from the start.

That’s taken his Pompey appearance tally for the season to 22 – which is some way short of last season’s 31 Rangers outings, a target he was hoping to easily surpass this term.

But any hope of him adding to that remains on hold as the youngster self-isolates, awaiting the go-ahead to resume training with his Fratton Park team-mates – whenever that will be.

In retrospect, the League One season that was anticipated for the talented midfielder has failed to materialise.

Bar his late lunge on the Shrews’ Donald Love at New Meadow, that’s no fault of his own.

Yet upon the league's resumption, there will still enough time for the lifelong Rangers fan to make his mark on this campaign.

There’ll also be numerous opportunities to continue the emotional rollercoaster he’s been on.

Although, we all hope the ride comes to a halt with the Championship being it’s next destination.

If that’s the case, then McCrorie’s luck will definitely have changed.