MIND GURU HELPS ME PLAY IT BY THE BOOK
Waghorn Self-help guide has built me up
Martyn Waghorn spent 10 days in Charleston engrossed in a self-help book. Now he’s determined to pen the next chapter in Rangers’ history.
The Ibrox striker jetted out for a sweat-fest pre-season training camp in South Carolina, although any success he enjoys this season will have its roots in southern California too.
Waghorn used his downtime when temperatures soared into the high 90s to duck into the shade and pore over Mindset, a self-help book written by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck.
The 26-year-old has never felt more relaxed than he does ahead of Saturday’s League Cup opener at Motherwell, even after the disappointment of a twomonth lay-off that cost him his chance to chase the 40-goal barrier last term.
The former Sunderland kid sustained the knee injury in the build-up and taking of a penalty that put Rangers on the road to the Scottish Cup quarterfinals with a 2-1 win at Kilmarnock.
He returned for May’s Final against Hibs but his lack of match sharpness became all too evident as Rangers went down 3-2.
Waghorn has turned to psychology before, most notably when he suf fered long- term injuries at Leicester and Wigan.
However, this time the former England Under-21 starlet is fixed on fine-tuning his mental approach as he reaches the peak years of his career.
Waghorn, who netted 28 times in his debut season in Scotland, said: “I just picked it up – it’s a good little book.
“It’s about trying not to let things affect me because I was a bit critical of myself last year if I was missing chances.
“It is helping develop me to become a better player and a better person, focusing on positives rather than negatives.
“I’ve been working on this for a couple of years with a psychologist I speak to from time to time.
“If it can help give me one per cent more, well why not?
“It’s all about little things – dealing with success, failure, how to move on from things as quickly as you can.
“Last season I didn’t have the book but I had good people around me – my wife, family, agent.
“When I got injured at Wigan it was a whole different scenario. I felt like the world was against me.
“At Rangers last season I was in a good frame of mind. I was still positive about the boys and everything was going well.
“I was injured but in a good zone – I knew they’d take care of it. It was one of those situations where if you know your own mind, it takes care of yourself.”
Waghorn’s pedigree is such that ex-Leicester boss Paulo Sousa forked out £ 3million to take him to the Foxes in 2010 only for injury and the form of another up-and-coming striker, Jamie Vardy, to limit his first-team chances.
Injuries hit hard again at Wigan a few years later and new Latics boss Malky Mackay didn’t start him regularly, leading to Waghorn falling off the radar
It’s about trying not to let things affect me because I was a bit critical of myself last year if I was
until Mark Warburton offered him a fresh start at Ibrox.
Waghorn led Rangers back to the top flight and a Petrofac Cup in the season that followed but it only laid down a marker for what he hopes lies ahead.
And despite snubbing a new deal at Ibrox last week, the striker is fully committed to helping Gers win more trophies this term.
Waghorn, whose current deal runs to 2018, said: “I came back and made the Scottish Cup Final but that didn’t work out for us.
“I still saw it as a successful season because our priority was to get promoted. I simply wanted to score 20 goals and I surpassed that target.
“We finished off with a double, which was brilliant and now we are looking forward to the Premiership.
“We are very fortunate with the quality of player we’ve got in attacking areas such as Kenny Miller, Barrie McKay, Josh Windass and Niko Kranjcar.
“It’s a good mix because we are all different players – the competition is there and it’s going to be a good year.
“When I first heard of the interest from Rangers I was desperate to come. Everyone knows the history and the size of the club.
“I’m pleased and excited to be part of the project as the club rises again.
“Last year is the past, it’s in the history books and we have more history to write. We have signed a quality of player that shows how determined the club are to be where they want to be.
“Everyone’s aim is to win the league. There is no doubt about that and no hiding from it.”
Still, Waghorn is the first to admit the challenge of competing in the Scottish Premiership is significantly tougher than the Championship where even relegated clubs such as Alloa managed to give Rangers a tough time.
He said: “If I’m being honest, when I came to Rangers I didn’t really know much about Scottish football.
“The teams we travelled to face last season were a challenge and it’s a new one this season, going to the likes of Aberdeen, Celtic and Hearts.
“The rivalries and competitions are going to be exciting. I’ve not yet played in an Old Firm game so I’m desperate to tick that off and experience one of them. It’s a challenge for the whole squad to be the best in Scotland.
“It’s crucial to get off to a good start next weekend in the League Cup at Motherwell. We want to set standards for the whole season and the benchmark for where we want to be.”
missing chances. It is helping develop me to become a better player and person