Goldson welcomes fixture flurry after his long-term lay-off
CONNOR GOLDSON reckons he is making up for lost time during a frantic campaign at Ibrox as he looks to play as often as possible for Rangers this term.
The defender has become an integral part of Steven Gerrard’s plans since making the move north of the border from Brighton in the summer.
Goldson made his 27 appearance in Light Blue against Villarreal on Thursday as he helped Gerrard’s side earn a clean sheet and clinch a muchneeded Europa League point.
But there is no time to sit back and relax at Ibrox as attentions quickly turn to the trip to Tynecastle tomorrow to face third-placed Hearts in Premiership action.
Boss Gerrard also has Gareth McAuley, Joe Worrall and Nikola Katic at his disposal but Goldson is determined to retain his starting spot as often as possible.
He said: “We have got four good centrebacks and we have a large number of games coming up, especially this month. We are going to need everyone in the squad, not just the centre backs, to step up and give performances if we want to be successful.
“We know we’ve got a lot of games in many different competitions, but every one is as big as the other if we want to have a good season.
“I have missed a lot of football over the last few years and the main reason for me to come here was to play football. I don’t want to miss games, I want to play in every single game that I can.
“I didn’t want to miss the Motherwell game. I played in a few before when I was ill and had a virus.
“I was up that night at about four o’clock on the Saturday morning. I just had to text the doctor and say ‘listen, I can’t do it’.
“Apart from that, I have wanted to play in every game. Before the Ayr cup game at home I went to the gaffer and said: ‘Don’t drop me, I want to play’.
“I have missed a lot of football in the last two seasons. I had my operation and it made me appreciate football a lot more than you do when you are younger.”
Victory over Hearts would take Rangers top of the table for the first time on Gerrard’s watch and move them a point clear of Old Firm rivals Celtic in the title race.
He said: “Yeah, that is the reason why I have come here. You want to play in the big games, you want to be successful, you want to be at a club that is fighting for things.
“We know we have got a massive month if we are going to be successful.”