For starting spot Rangers midfielder ready to cement place as key cog in Scotland midfield
WHEN Steven Gerrard was appointed Rangers manager two years ago, Ryan Jack knew he had a fight on his hands to become a regular at Ibrox.
Now, the midfielder has a claim to being a starter at Hampden as he looks to continue his fine form for Rangers when he pulls on the dark blue of Scotland.
Jack earned his second cap for his country – coming off the bench in the 4-0 defeat to Belgium – just months after Gerrard started a new era.
In the time since, the former Aberdeen captain has evolved and improved considerably and he has the trust of Scotland boss Steve Clarke as well as the backing of his club gaffer.
Appearances three and four for Scotland came late last year and now Jack is firmly in the running for a start when Clarke’s side face Israel and the Czech Republic in the coming days.
“When the gaffer first came to the club I knew I would have to work hard,” Jack said.
“I’d just come off a bad injury and I hadn’t really played much football. It was going to be tough to work myself back and get into his plans.
“At the time, I would have thought that being in the position I am now would have been a fair bit away. But I just got my head down and worked hard at Rangers.
“Steve Clarke then came in as Scotland gaffer and really believed in me. He called me up, I get on great with him and now I am looking forward to being part of these games.
“It’s a hard battle in the midfield area. There is a lot of talent in the squad but you look at the midfielders and there are so many playing at a top level – domestically and at European level.
“But it’s good because you come away and test yourself, and look to put in a shift to get in the manager’s thoughts and plans. This trip is no different. We all want to play but if you do well in training then hopefully that’ll be enough.”
Jack couldn’t have done much more to catch Clarke’s eye in the opening weeks of the Premiership campaign. He has once again been integral to Rangers as five wins have been recorded from six fixtures.
Israel and the Czechs are very different challenges but they are ones that Jack is relishing and two he is sure he can rise to.
“The plan is to take the club form into Scotland duty,” he said. “Everything is going well at Rangers and it’s always an honour to get picked by Scotland.
“Coming into this game we just want to keep the momentum going and get another couple of wins. Personally, I am in a good place physically and mentally.
“I had a good pre-season and that always stands you in good stead going forward. I have played a lot of football since we started back and hopefully I can take that form into Scotland duty. Hopefully I get the chance to play the games but there is a lot of hard work ahead.
“I am looking forward to these games and we want to keep the momentum going from last year and push on into next month.”
If Clarke takes inspiration from the wins over Cyprus and Kazakhstan, Jack could find himself alongside Callum McGregor once again.
Their respective importance to Rangers and Celtic is undoubted. The same could soon be said for Scotland.
“I have had this question before and it is no different from the last time that I got it,” he said when asked about the partnership with McGregor.
“When you are playing at club level and it doesn’t matter who you are playing against, whether it is Celtic players, Aberdeen players or whoever it may be, it is always going to be fierce and there are always going to be battles. We are rivals.
“But when you come away with Scotland, it changes and you are all striving and pushing for the same objective for the nation and the country.
“When we come away, club level gets put to one side and that is the way it should be. When you play games, we are all striving to do well for Scotland.
“The last couple of games, I really enjoyed it. It was two strong team performances, I wouldn’t just say it was down to two individuals.
“We got on really well during the game and as a team I thought we did well.”
I just got my head down and worked