Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland has revealed he watched the Old Firm derby win from his kitchen while on crutches, as he continues his recovery from hamstring surgery. The striker, who had the operation last month, was unable to attend the away fixture at Celtic Park due to fan restrictions and instead supported his team from home.
Pain of missing out
Shankland was present at Ibrox for the Premier Sports Cup win over Celtic but was shut out of the league clash a week later. He admitted the match was difficult to watch, even as Rangers dominated in Glasgow's east end.
“Am I a good at watching games? You’d need to ask my missus that one – I was watching it in the kitchen!” Shankland said. “It’s hard watching games, it’s difficult. You always obviously want to be out there. But it’s different, obviously you can’t be at the away ties with the fan restrictions and stuff.”
The captain added: “I think my missus was doing something. I actually was on the crutches and I didn’t realise I’d stood up for the full first half until the half-time whistle went. I’d been standing on one leg for 45 minutes! It’s difficult to watch them and you want to be there with the boys.”
Back around the squad
Shankland has now ditched the crutches and is back around the squad at Auchenhowie every day, determined to play a leadership role as he targets a return early in the New Year.
“Definitely, you need to be around the place, be around the boys,” he said. “When things are getting taken care of on the pitch, it makes your role easier. For me, at the minute the boys have been playing really well, the performances have been really good and the squad’s in a good place.”
The striker was hitting form when injury struck against Motherwell but has been thrilled to see the Rangers resurgence after a sticky start to the season. He singled out midfielder Dan Neil for particular praise after his two goals in the Old Firm.
“Obviously some players can maybe produce that bit of magic here and there. But I was delighted for Dan Neil,” Shankland said. “Obviously you come here, the expectation is really big, and when things aren’t going very well people like to be vocal and they get on your back, and I felt that Dan had a bit of a tough run at the start. I felt for him.”
Support for injured teammates
Shankland has had company in the treatment room with fellow striker Youssef Chermiti out for the long term. Ryan Naderi and new signing Kevin Kelsy have stepped up in recent weeks, with Naderi earning a Czech Republic call-up and Kelsy away with Venezuela after scoring against Celtic in the cup.
“Youssef’s a great guy. He’s been handed a tough one, it’s a tough injury for himself,” Shankland said. “And for him mentally, seeing people like myself being out injured after him and then going back before him will be tough. So it’s important as a squad that we’re all there to support him through that long-term one.”
Shankland was speaking as he helped promote RYDC’s Rangers Lotto product. End-of-month Big Blue Jackpots of up to £25,000 must be won – over 18s can play with tickets costing just £1.
