Whack! League Two striker floored me. I felt face and my nose was hanging under an eye .. so will Scots game be too physical for me? I’ll be OK
When Joe Worrall quizzed Davie Weir on Rangers he didn’t bother asking the Ibrox legend about the demands of Scottish football.
He was already well versed on the size and stature of the Ibrox club and the expectations of the supporters.
But in terms of how he’d cope with the physicality of the Premiership? There was no need to question that.
At 19, Worrall was sent on loan from Nottingham Forest to English League Two outfit Dagenham and Redbridge.
It was an eye-opener for the big centre-back. Off the pitch he had to get used to sleeping on the floor of his temporary digs.
On it, he soon had his nose splattered across his face by veteran Carlisle centre-forward Jabo Ibehre.
As is Worrall’s way, he got the physio to click it back into place and carried on to keep a clean sheet in the Daggers’ 0- 0 draw.
Worrall admits he enjoyed the experience of being out of his Forest comfort zone.
His second loan spell away from the City Ground will be a little bit different as he eyes an opportunity to impress in Steven Gerrard’s first team.
Europa League action at Villarreal’s El Madrigal stadium on Thursday night will be a mi l lion mi les from Dagenham and Redbridge’s Victoria Park.
Worrall insists he’s ready for anything this stint at Rangers might throw at him.
He revealed: “I spoke to Davie and Mark Warburton before coming here.
“They had me at Forest and said great things about Rangers, especially Davie who has a special connection with the club.
“Everything he said is true. I’ve come from a big club but Rangers is a step up.
“You look at the training ground and see pictures on the wall of who has actually played here. Under the manager, the expectations are massive here. It’s perfectly suited for me to come and play football again.
“Davie didn’t need to tell me about the football up here. I just asked him about the club as a whole. I already knew about Scottish football and what to expect. I’ve watched plenty of Old Firm games growing up.
“Rangers have been down the leagues for a few seasons but now that we’re back up here, it’s about time we were challenging at the top.
“I was on loan before at Dagenham and Redbridge. I was on a mattress on a floor for four or five months. That’s the way it was.
“It was a culture shock but I loved it. Our flat was bare when we got there, it just had one of those big box TVs. There was no Sky or anything like that.
“I took my laptop and a HDMI cable to watch Netflix then bought a dartboard for the lads. That was me.
“It was like a building block in my career. I broke my nose in a League Two game not long after going there. That was good fun.
“The striker came across me and went whack, straight into my nose.
“I was on the floor, felt my face and my nose was literally under my eye.
“I just got on with it. The physio clicked it back into place. Listen, when you play centre-back, it doesn’t matter what league
you play in. You’re expected to head it, kick it, put your body on the line. “The Scottish Premiership doesn’t differ too much from the Championship.
“In League Two, the standard of player might not be as good but the basics are still the same.”
Worrall admits it wasn’t easy when Forest gaffer Aitor Karanka told him he wasn’t part of his plans for this season.
It alerted Gerrard to the England Under-21 international who was keen to make him one of Rangers’ four centre-backs, joining Connor Goldson, Niko Katic and Gareth McAuley.
The 21-year- old now wants to show his former bosses what they’re missing by performing on the Europa League stage in this campaign.
He said: “I wouldn’t say I was unfairly treated at Forest. It’s just that the gaffer Karanka didn’t fancy me.
“He brought in his own players but I never sulked about it.
“I spoke to him and asked what was happening.
“He said he’d allow me to go on loan to a suitable club and Rangers were the perfect fit.
“It was hard to get my head around it, definitely.
“No player wants to be told that you’re not involved. I wasn’t in the team and wasn’t even on the bench. “It was hard but I’ve come to a huge club in Rangers and I’m happy to be here. ”It’s exciting to have the chance to play in Europe.
“The Europa League games give me a great platform to go and show Forest what they’re missing.
“This season I’ll be playing in Europe and Forest won’t.
“I’ve got that experience to take back to Forest, which should be good for me. I have been playing with England for 18 months so I’ve played in different foreign countries and travelled for my football. I know what it’s all about.” Worrall will have his work cut out to dislodge f irst- choice central defensive pairing Goldson and Katic, who have both been terrific since arriving at the club in the summer. But he’s convinced that Gerrard will give him a chance and he won’t let it pass him by.
Niko Katic and Connor Goldson been have warned Rangers new boy Joe Worrall is gunning for their Boss jerseys. Steven Gerrard seen a lot said: “I’ve of Joe and I like he’s hungry. the fact I know he can handle Rangers and he’s pushing hard. “Our two centre- been halves have awesome but Joe play with can either of them. He’s really desperate to play.” When you play as a centre-back you head it, kick it and put your body on line
He said: “My playing time has been delayed since February at Forest but I haven’t taken my foot off the gas.
“That’s something I pride myself on, working hard. I’m just getting on with it.
“The manager wants to play me here but I know I still have to wait my turn.
“Whether that’s having to wait for an injury, a formation change or something else, I’ll be pushing hard.
“When I do get an opportunity I will take my chance.”