DEFOE SEES THE BENEFITS OF EURO AXE
Rangers striker admits that he needed to ‘ set his ego aside’ when he was left out of the club’s Europa League squad
Anyone who spends even the briefest length of time in Jermain Defoe’s company would attest to a complete lack of arrogance in his make- up.
While the former England striker has built his long and prolific career on a self- centred hunger for scoring goals, he has also always been able to put the greater interests of his team ahead of any desire for personal glory.
It’ s why even if he concedes that his pride was hurt only a little, Defoe was easily able to find the humility necessary to accept Steven G err a rd’ s big call to omit him from Rangers’ Europa League group stage squad this season.
The 38- year-old, who is poised to make only his third starting appearance of the campaign in Sunday’s Betfred Cup round of 16 tie at Falkirk, believes both he and his manager will benefit from the decision to rest his ageing bones f or those Thursday ni g ht European assignments in a currently relentless schedule for the Ibrox club.
"At first, it was one of those ones where you have to put your ego to the side a little bit and think about the bigger picture and why the manager is doing it ,” said Defoe.
“I asked ‘ Is it going to help me in the long run ?’ And I think it has.
“I can understand it. The manager will always be honest with me. A lot of the time, he look sat it and puts himself in the position of what could have helped him at the back end of his career.
"We speak on a level, to be honest. He asked me about it and I said it would help me because I train hard on a Wednesday - I do a power session in the gym after training – and I have the Thursday off my legs.
“I can sort of peak going into the weekend games which has obviously helped me. When you travel and maybe not get on, it can make you tired and there is a chance you could be starting on the weekend. It’s helped me because in the two games I’ ve started, I’ ve felt really sharp.
"With the amount of games we play, it’ s important to have a big squad so the manager can make changes. It’s not just about the squad being big but having that quality within it so that players can come in and the manager feels confident making those changes because he will get the same performances put in.
“That’s what’s happened to be honest. If you look at the games so far, with the changes the manager has made, the players who have come in understand their role, understand how the team plays and understand how important the games are. That goes for the new players as well.
“Everyone is playing well.
That is not only credit to the players but to the coaching staff as well. A lot of it starts in training, with the intensity of how we work in and out of possession.
"I’m looking forward to the game on Sunday and looking forward to the competition, especially with what hap - pened in it last season when we lost the final to Celtic. There is that sort of extra incentive there for us.”