I feared I’d have to quit Rangers again when Pedro axed me but I’ve got a new lease of life with boss Graeme
SCOTT McDERMOTT in FLORIDA Danny joy as he takes chance to impress boss
DANNY WILSON was so far out of the picture at Rangers he felt he would have to leave Ibrox for a second time.
But now he’s back in the frame under Graeme Murty the defender wants to be part of the club’s furniture again.
The 26-year-old is in his second stint at the club after previously earning a big-money move to Liverpool as a kid.
He’s ended up back at Rangers via Hearts and now sees his long-term future in Govan.
But that didn’t stop Wilson contemplating another exit when former Gers gaffer Pedro Caixinha axed him from his squad.
For a spell this term the centre-back was left out in the cold by the Portuguese who was sacked in October.
Murty’s appointment as boss has given Wilson a new lease of life. Not only is he back in the starting line-up but against Celtic at Parkhead on December 30 he produced a display reminiscent of the ones that got him a switch to Anfield as a teenager.
Wilson is enjoying his football again and – with just six months of his contract left – he’s keen to thrash out a new deal at Rangers.
But as he reflected on that period under Caixinha when he was out of the picture he admits he was weighing up a move out of Ibrox.
From the club’s training base in Florida, Wilson said: “I’m grateful to the gaffer for giving me an opportunity because I’ve been on the outside looking in. I wasn’t getting any game time at all.
“So I’m thankful he’s put his trust in me. I’m pleased I’ve been able to contribute because there was definitely a point when I was worried I wouldn’t get back in.
“I’m realistic. If you’re not playing you won’t be around for much longer, especially the way things were going at the club.
“There was a period back then when I thought it wouldn’t happen for me and I’d need to consider moving on.
“But thankfully I’ve had an upturn in my fortunes and I’ve played in the last 12 games.
“What you get with the manager is a great deal of honesty and I have to thank him for sticking with me.
“All he’s told me to do now is make myself difficult to drop.
“You have to try to be as positive as you can when you’re not involved but it can be difficult, there’s no doubt about that.
“When you’re not even included in squads you start thinking that your time’s up.
“I’ve got another opportunity now and hopefully I’ve done enough to merit staying in the team going forward. Ultimately, that’s what I want – to stay at Ibrox and play games.
“I really want to stay at Rangers. I’m in the last six months of my contract so something will obviously have to happen one way or another.
“But I really do hope it’s to stay at Ibrox because I’m never happier than when I’m here, in the team and playing games.
“Hopefully it’ll all get sorted. As far as I’m concerned I see my future at Rangers. We’ve had a difficult period but we’ve come out the other side better. Hopefully we can all move on together and I’ll be here contributing.”
In the recurring absence of experienced Portuguese centrehalf Bruno Alves and his countryman Fabio Cardoso, Wilson has taken on the role as Rangers’ leader at the back in recent weeks.
When Alves limped off in the 0-0 draw at Celtic Park he took the armband and excelled alongside youngster David Bates.
Having broken into the Gers’ side with veteran David Weir as a mentor, Wilson is now the experienced figure for the likes of Bates and Ross McCrorie.
It’s a job he relishes and says captaining the club – even on a temporary basis – is an honour he’s proud of, adding: “I thrive on the responsibility at the back. When I’ve been given the armband it’s been really enjoyable.
“You never know what might happen in football, absolutely nothing is guaranteed.
“So to say that I’ve led Rangers out – even if it was only once – will always stay with me.
“Other players could have been given the honour so I’m just thankful it was me. I feel a bit of responsibility to help David and Ross because I’ve been in their position before. When I think back to when I came into the Rangers side the last thing I wanted was to be a burden on the team.
“It’s the same for them. You see that in the maturity of their performances.
“There is no doubt they enhance us as a team rather than hold us back in any way. They’ve both done really well.
“Ross has had an extended run in the team and he looks like a player we can’t do without now. That’s how important he’s been since his introduction.
“And David’s performed well at places like Pittodrie and Parkhead. If he can keep doing that Rangers will be better for it.”
Despite a positive point in the Old Firm derby Wilson knows the
Ultimately, that’s what I want – to stay at Ibrox and play for Rangers