Macca: I’m backing Alf to get on a streak soon
MICHAEL GANNON
GEORGE MICHAEL gave away his heart last Christmas but Ryan Jack’s was broken as his dream move to Rangers turned in to a nightmare. This year, to save him from tears, the midfielder wants to make this season something special. Last December the former Aberdeen man was carried off in agony after a shocking tackle from Motherwell’s Cedric Kipre, putting the tin hat on a miserable first few months at Ibrox. Jack arrived just as boss Pedro Caixinha was starting to unravel, he picked up four red cards in a matter of months, two of them got rescinded but one was against the Dons on a painful day at Pittodrie. The injury wrecked the rest of his campaign but a year on and the scene could not be more different – back at full pelt and bossing the Gers engine room. To top it off he picked up a neat Christmas bonus yesterday with an extra year on his contract along with a bump in his salary. Jack insisted it was the thoughts of things coming good for him at Ibrox that kept him going through the long winter. He said: “I don’t think I was ever worried. When you come to a club and you have a bad injury and go through dark times then it’s tough. “But I used it to give me motivation and determination when I came back. “I knew there was a new coaching staff coming in and right from pre-season I wanted to use what happened as motivation and make sure I could be in their plans for this season. When I found out the club wanted to extend my contract it was a no-brainer.” Jack is now front and centre of Steven Gerrard’s thoughts and m.gannon@dailyrecord.co.uk underlined his importance to the side with another superb show in the goalless draw at Easter Road on Wednesday.
It takes a special mindset to come back from the brink but the midfielder reckons he’s not the only one with a steel core at Ibrox these days.
“But as soon as there are a couple of bad results and you go through tough times that’s when you are mentally tested as an individual and a squad.
“I’ve said before I think we’ve got great characters and a great group of lads at this club and when we’ve had tough times and sticky results we’ve always come out the other end. That is testament to the squad we have.
“I think you do need it, of course you do, but everyone plays a part in different ways.
“Not everyone likes to shout and bawl or be vocal and have a say.
“Some people prefer to do their talking as soon as they cross the white line on to the pitch and that’s fair enough. To have a successful squad you have all types of characters within it and we have a good mix at the minute.”
Jack knows it’s time to dig in again as the campaign hits a crucial stage, with St Johnstone up next in Perth tomorrow, Hibs at Ibrox on Boxing Day before Celtic head across the city on December 29.
It’s tempting to look to the Old Firm showdown but Jack will resist. He said: “Every game is as big as the next one and St Johnstone away is a tough game on the back of being at Easter Road and coming through that one.
“Going away from home to any team in this league is tough. We take each game as it comes but we are looking forward to the three games.”
Rangers will need to tough it out over the next week as the Ibrox men look to finish 2018 in the Premiership title mix.
No.2 Gary McAllister admitted Jack is just the kind of guy the club needs to stay in the fight.
He said: “The manager and all the coaching staff are delighted he has extended his contract.
“It’s a reward because he has been very impressive from day one. Not just the games, and the run in Europe, but also the things people on the outside don’t see. From Monday to Friday he is a leader.
“He is a great example for the younger players around him in terms of his attitude and the way he goes about preparing for games and training.
“But there is more to Ryan’s game and he has shown that when he has moved away from the No.6 role to a more advanced one.
“He can cope with the ball, be creative and play forward. The contract is a big reward for that whole package.” BY MICHAEL GANNON GARY McALLISTER is chilled out over Rangers’ scoring woes because he’s convinced Alfredo Morelos is about to hit a hot streak.
The Ibrox No.2 is not concerned about the side’s lack of a cutting edge with just one goal in their last seven games from open play and a load of chances going begging against Hibs in midweek.
Morelos passed up a few golden opportunities but McAllister is sure the goals are in the post for the hitman who has already blasted 17 this term.
He said: “Alfredo is up. The other night I thought he was excellent. He just needed a goal. There were moments there when he was very impressive.
“He only missed a goal. It’s maybe a consequence of him being a bit stop start in terms of being suspended but we don’t have any fears about him, he’ll score goals.
“He reminds me of quite a few South American strikers. He is very powerful and quick and needs very little back-lift on his execution.
“Some strikers are streaky. I see Alfredo like that, as much as he has scored consistently for us.
“If we can continue as we’re playing and keep knocking at the door I can feel goals coming.”
(45) Aberdeen v Hearts .............................. (46) Celtic v Dundee ................................... (47) Hamilton v Kilmarnock ........................ (48) Hibs v Livingston ................................. (49) Motherwell v St Mirren .......................
LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
(4) Tottenham v Everton ........................ 4.0
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
(9) Aston Villa v Leeds ......................... 1.30
LADBROKES PREMIERSHIP
(-) St Johnstone v Rangers ................. 12.15