BIG MAC WILL FREAK YOU OUT
Boyce says pal Gareth, 38, defies his age and will be massive player at Rangers
The pair worked together in the Northern Ireland squad.
Former Ross County star Boyce watched closely as the 38-year-old defied his years by being fitter than guys half his age. And that’s why he reckons the Rangers new boy will be a big success.
McAuley turned down offers from England and other Scottish sides before signing for his boyhood club on a one-year deal last week after being released by West Brom.
Boyce is certain his friend will prove an extremely shrewd signing by Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.
He said: “Gareth is a bit of a freak if I’m honest. He’s 38 and his age would suggests he’s old – but his stats for fitness and running are incredible.
“He obviously has that experience to know where to be and reads the game really well but he also looks after himself which will benefit Rangers.
“You see it in training with Northern Ireland and obviously he was a big player for West Brom in the Premier League for a long time.
“It could be a wonder move for Gers because he’s a top-quality player.
“He’s still in the Northern Ireland squad at 38 which is testament to how good a player he is. I can only see him making Rangers better.”
Now with League One outfit Burton Albion, Boyce continues to keep a close eye on the Scottish game.
He would love to come back and play in the Premiership in the future and attempt to become the country’s top scorer again.
Boyce, who arrived in Scotland from Irish League side Cliftonville, netted an impressive 23 times in the league during the 2016-17 campaign.
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Those goals kept County in the top f light and earned the Belfast man a £500,000 move to Burton.
It has been a roller coaster ride since then as Boyce suffered a serious knee injury in his first pre-season that kept him out long term.
On his return, his goals almost saved Albion from relegation and he has started this term on fire in League One.
Championship club Bolton wanted to sign him on loan with a view to a permanent transfer.
But a deal could not be struck with Bur ton wanting over £1million for the striker, though Bolton and others are l i kely to come in a ga in in January.
It is also understood Aberdeen inquired about Boyce but were priced out by Burton.
Q u i z z e d on a possible return to Scotland, Boyce said: “I would love to go back some time and see if I could do it all over again because I finished top scorer in my last season at Ross County.
“Playing in Scot t ish football changed my life. “I really enjoyed my time with County and we had
some good moments.
“Now I just want to see how high I can go.
“Last season I was in the Championship with Burton but I had to miss half of it due to injury. “I’d love to get back there and see if we can keep pushing and get into the English Premier League. Everyone can dream.
“And down the line returning to play in the Scottish Premiership is something I would look at.”
When Boyce was a young player in his first spell at Cliftonville a host of big clubs in Europe were keeping track of him.
There was a suggestion that Barcelona was one before he joined German outfit Werder Bremen.
He recalled: “When I was 19 there were meant to be teams like Barca coming in for me. You could be going to sleep dreaming of playing with Lionel Messi then you wake up in your own bed and nothing has changed.
“You just have to forget about it and get on with playing football. If you do that well then the interest in you will follow on.”
Boyce will forever remain grateful to Ross County manager Jim McIntyre and coach Bil ly Dodds for turning him into a goal machine.
Boyce said: “When I was at Cliftonville I was always getting the ball and trying to set up goals as well as scoring.
“Then when I moved to Ross County Dodds and McIntyre were always drilling it into me that I needed to be in and around the six-yard box.
“I took that on board and have concentrated on that ever since.
“That’s where the goals are going to come from and at the end of the day everyone loves a goalscorer – so I always appreciate those days at Ross County with Billy and Jim. “I can play as a No.10 but I want to be scoring goals and I think I’m best in that position as the striker.”