Defoe: Gers can relight my fire
JERMAIN DEFOE insists his Rangers move can reignite the fire in his belly as he set his sights on ending the club’s eight-year wait for a major trophy. The striker trained with his new team-mates for the first time
FROM BACK PAGE yesterday at the club’s winter training camp in Tenerife following his 18-month loan move from Bournemouth.
Defoe struggled for game time at the Cherries and admitted he was desperate for a fresh challenge after spending almost his entire 20-year playing in the English Premier League.
The 36-year-old had one spell at Toronto in the MLS but left just five months into his four-year deal and revealed the lure of Rangers was too good to turn down.
Defoe said: “I have been in the Premier League for so long and it is always nice to have a different challenge.
“Sometimes you can, not get comfortable, but you are in your comfort zone there and sometimes it is nice to get away from that and just try and find that fire again.
“Winning trophies was another draw, especially how well the lads have done since Stevie Gerrard has been in. That would be amazing to be involved in.
“This is a massive club and a good opportunity. This is another league for me and I am really looking forward to it.”
Defoe admitted the Gerrard factor was crucial in his move and, speaking to Rangers TV he said: “He is a young manager and his enthusiasm is amazing.
“Steven had a big influence because he is an ex-team-mate and someone I have always admired and respected.”
Meanwhile, Rangers could further boost their squad with Glen Kamara recalled from international duty with Finland as Dundee try to thrash out a deal for the player to leave this month.
The 23-year-old has penned a pre-contract and is due to move to Ibrox in the summer but talks are now under way between the clubs.
Kamara was in Qatar for Finland’s friendly against Sweden but was able to be recalled as the fixture wasn’t on FIFA’s calendar and is now due for talks with Dens Park chiefs.
Finland boss Markku Kanerva reckons Gerrard has picked up a bargain.
Before his side’s 1-0 win against the Finns he said: “Glen’s been due a big move for a long time and I predicted he’d get it.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful to Dundee but playing for Rangers will be an altogether harder environment to go to.
“He’ll learn under Gerrard and get tips on how to thrive. It’s an excellent move.” CONNOR GOLDSON might have strolled through the Old Firm derby win but just 48 hours earlier the Rangers defender could barely walk. The stopper revealed how the pain in his Achilles from the injury picked up against Hibs on Boxing Day was so extreme he struggled to get out of bed. Goldson admitted he was distraught at the prospect of missing the biggest game of the season. He was too upset to even talk to girlfriend Kayleigh who tried to lift his spirits and put his worries in perspective. But the 26-year-old – who admitted it was “silly” to return to the field against Hibs after Darren McGregor landed on him – insisted on painkilling injections to play against Celtic. And it paid off as Goldson was one of the standout performers in the 1-0 victory that has given a huge boost to the Light Blues’ Premiership hopes. Goldson has gone through tough times in his career, battling back from a heart operation to play in the Premier League with Brighton. At full-time against the Hoops he took time to stand in front of the Copland Road and savour the celebrations of the Gers fans who had waited almost seven years for a league derby win.
And it made all his pre-match suffering worthwhile.
Speaking from the club’s winter training camp in Tenerife, Goldson said: “I was probably as professional as I ever have been for two days leading up to the Celtic game.
“I wasn’t happy. I didn’t speak to my missus in the morning. I was a little bit emotional. She actually said to me, ‘You need to get over it. If you’re not going to play you’re not going to play, it’s not the end of the world’.
“But I knew I had to. Not for the team but for me. I did everything. Credit to the doctors and physios, they patched me up as much as they could.
“I iced it 24/7 and tried to do everything I could to get it moving. Even in the warm-up I wasn’t