Charlie Nicholas has warned Joe Aribo to get his act together as he says the Rangers midfielder "hasn't kicked his own backside" since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Nigerian international looked a shoo-in for Player of the Year but, despite an assist against Aberdeen at the weekend, he hasn't been as influential in the second half of the campaign.
With Gio van Bronckhorst's side chasing down Celtic in the Premiership and facing Red Star in the Europa League last 16, Nicholas expects the likes of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos to step up.
But he's been left frustrated by Aribo in recent weeks as he tells the 25-year-old to recapture his best performances.
Nicholas wrote in his Daily Express column: "Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side deservedly won plenty of plaudits for seeing off Borussia Dortmund in the last round.
"They now face Red Star at Ibrox in the first leg and there is no doubt expectation levels have been cranked up again.
"I can see Kent and Alfredo Morelos both having an appetite for this game, but I do think it is time Rangers got a performance out of Joe Aribo again because he hasn't kicked his own backside since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in late January.
"Up to that point, he had been the player of the season but that is now up for debate.
"Rangers need to go for it against Red Star and get the home crowd on board.The Ibrox fans might believe the Serbians are easier opponents than Borussia Dortmund but there is no chance van Bronckhorst and his players will be taking that view.
"Red Star have done well to get this far, having knocked out Cluj before topping a group featuring Midtjylland, Braga and Ludogorets.
"They are a decent team and will be technically good, albeit maybe not as strong as in previous years."
And it wasn't just Aribo who came under fire for recent performances, with Nicholas reiterating that a decision may have to be made over veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
He continued: "I don't think Red Star will be overawed by the atmosphere at Ibrox but there is no doubt it is a stadium that can rattle opponents, especially if Rangers get the first goal or make a flying start.
"However, I look at van Bronckhorst's side and I still think they are defensively vulnerable.
"Allan McGregor is not at the top of his game and has looked apprehensive at times.
"As I said in this column last week, he is a very lucky guy to still be in the team. If it had been anybody else in goals they would have been dropped by now.
"What I would say about McGregor is that he does tend to respond on these big nights.
"And Rangers have looked much better as a team in Europe."
