It has been just over a month since Steven Gerrard was sacked as Aston Villa manager and he is yet to return to the game. 

It remains to be seen where the Liverpool legend will end up, but despite bookies pricing the Scouser high in their next manager lists, it would be a hugely surprising move if he was to return to Rangers. 

The Ibrox club are on the lookout for a new boss after cutting ties with Giovanni van Bronckhorst this week following a poor start to the season both domestically and in Europe. 

The Dutchman replaced Gerrard as manager just over a year ago as the Englishman headed to the Premier League to pursue his dream of managing at the highest level - and at that time his stock was high. 

Twelve months later and things are so different. Gerrard is hunting for a job that can help to rebuild his reputation as a manager in his own right. 

The 42-year-old deserves major credit for what he achieved at Rangers by winning title number 55 and toppling Celtic's quest for 10-in-a-row, but a return to Scotland would bring huge pressure to succeed from the off in a possible second stint. 

Gerrard would also face the tough task of winning over the entire Ibrox support. In the eyes of some, he is a hero and a legend, but others questioned his departure to go back down south and to forgive that would take a lot. 

There simply would be no room for error for Gerrard in Govan a second time round and anyone with half an idea of the Scottish game knows how easily things can unravel in quick time.  

A return to the Premier League is also a way off for Gerrard as he looks to get back into management. England's top-flight clubs very rarely take a gamble on a manager, and the former England captain would be exactly that given his poor recent record at Villa where he only won 13 from 40 games. 

Scottish football is largely frowned upon south of the border, and there is always a levels argument when the Premiership is compared to the glamourous Premier League. 

Gerrard would have hoped to have shown he was able to bridge that gap when he headed back down south, but ultimately, he failed to. 

With this in mind, Gerrard will likely have to look to the English Championship for his next role and it could well be the perfect fit for him. If the Anfield hero can show his worth by guiding a side into the Premier League, via a title win or play-offs, the past year will be forgotten. 

Wigan is the only current position available and Gerrard has been linked, but Kolo Toure looks set to be the man who the Latics will opt for if you go with the bookies' odds. 

The manager merry-go-round never stops though, and another gig will spring forth in the near future. Gerrard showed he was a hugely impressive manager and coach during his time at Ibrox, he just needs the right job to showcase those talents once again.

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