Thelo Aasgaard's terrific goal against Dundee United at Tannadice on Friday night was not enough to give new boss Derek McInnes more than a 1-1 draw in Rangers' season opener, but it was a signal of intent.
Aasgaard looked like a lost boy for much of his first year in Glasgow. After arriving from Luton Town for £3.5 million, he failed to deliver for Russell Martin and Danny Rohl, producing only one-off moments of magic with his technical ability. He was a peripheral figure as Rangers' forlorn title bid collapsed, and many supporters would have cut their losses this summer.
Now, after playing for Norway at the World Cup in America and scoring against France in the group stage, he says he is ready to be the main man at Ibrox.
World Cup confidence
Aasgaard promised McInnes he would return early from his holiday to try to cement his place. He was Rangers' most dangerous player against Dundee United, and his post-match interviews also impressed. This is a player who has consciously decided he no longer wants to be on the edge of things.
“I’ve just tried to bring that quality from my six weeks out in America,” Aasgaard said. “I trained with some really good players every day and that raises your standards. So I’ve tried to bring that to pre-season and I feel like I’ve done that.”
“I want to take some responsibility this year, to be the man. Hopefully I can do that. What makes me believe I can do that? Evidence. Good games for Rangers, for Luton, Wigan back in the day. Even then, I always believed I could step up for a big team. Playing among the best players in the world with Norway, having a good performance at the World Cup, that did wonders for my confidence.”
Character building
The Scouse-born Norway star reflected on a difficult first season in Glasgow. “I was happy with a lot of moments last year. I had some good periods. But there were also a few periods when I was out of the team and not having the impact on the pitch I wanted. So yes, there are things to learn from last year. I’ve had time to reflect on it over in America.”
“Being at the club for a year now, and having gone through some crazy times - and it’s tough at times - it makes you stronger. It’s character building and it all adds up to what I am today. Now, I’m trying to take that forward.”
With big characters already out of the building and more set to leave this window, Aasgaard insists he is ready to show his true personality on and off the pitch.
Manager’s trust
McInnes has praised Aasgaard for cutting his summer holiday short. The playmaker says returning early was about proving a point. “It (coming back early) was just to prove a point that I should be in the team - and that he (McInnes) should trust me to come in and make a difference. Last season, there were a lot of ups and downs and I’m now trying to find that consistency. If it’s not a goal or assist, it’s a really strong performance.”
“I was obviously happy to score on Friday night but I’m just trying to show the manager that I should be in and around this team. The manager has been great with me since I’ve come back. I had that full belief from him straight away from when I walked in. He wants me to play with freedom and take that responsibility on my shoulders, which is great for me. Hopefully he can carry on doing that.”
More competition to come
Rangers are actively looking to sign wingers and attacking threats, and McInnes knows he needs more of the creativity Aasgaard provides at the top end of the pitch. Rather than worry about his own place, Aasgaard says added competition can only help.
“Competition is crucial in a team, that’s what keeps you going. If you’re in a team and have no-one behind pushing you, sometimes you can relax a little bit and performances aren’t the best. You need people pushing you and there are lads here pushing me now. Training has been good, it’s been high intensity. That’s what the manager demands every day. I’ll continue with that and I’m sure more players will come in.”
