'He's been away at the AFCON' - Ex-Tottenham star suggests Aribo is suffering from burnout

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers fullback Alan Hutton has suggested that Joe Aribo is mentally exhausted after playing several games for club and country this season.

The versatile midfielder was one of the promising players for the Light Blues in the first half of the campaign but his performance levels have dropped significantly since he returned from the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Aribo has played 46 games for Rangers this season, 43 of which were from the start, and started ten of the last twelve matches played by the national team, taking his total for 2021-2022 to 56 matches - a high amount for any player given the physicality of the Scottish Premiership and African football.

The Super Eagle was a shadow of himself in Rangers' most recent game against Celtic and the decision of manager
Giovanni van Bronckhorst to leave him on the pitch for ninety minutes was questioned by fans.

Asked if Aribo may be suffering burnout, Hutton told Football Insider : "I think so. I was watching the game with a lot of friends who are Rangers fans and we all said the same thing, that he looked a bit jaded, a bit tired.

"You look at the amount of football that he’s played. A lot of pressure falls on his shoulders to go and produce. He can open that defence, he can see a pass and split a defence."

Hutton continued : "A lot comes down to him, especially when teams are playing low blocks against Rangers. It’s up to him to try and open that door, so there’s been a lot of pressure on him.

"He’s been away at the AFCON and I think people forget that. They only see him turning up on a Saturday and say: 'He’s played better.'"