Dodoo a dream addition
Waghorn relishing old Foxes comrade joining Ibrox attack
RANGERS striker Martyn Waghorn has declared his former Leicester City colleague Joe Dodoo as the perfect addition to the array of attacking talent at Ibrox.
Dodoo is set to be confirmed as Mark Warburton’s ninth summer signing on a four-year deal tomorrow, a capture fully endorsed by Waghorn when speaking after a 2-0 Betfred Cup win at Motherwell. Waghorn scored in the 90th minute to add to James Tavernier’s opener as Rangers began their Group F campaign with victory over a top-flight rival. The pair strengthened their own bargaining positions for ongoing contract negotiations with terrific strikes at Fir Park.
While the first offers for extended deals beyond 2018 were understood to be knocked back by the stars of last season’s campaign, Waghorn expressed his contentment at the club and delight at the imminent recruitment of 21-year-old Dodoo.
‘I know of Joe from back when I was at Leicester,’ said Waghorn. ‘He’s a good young player, he’s quick with an eye for goal. He’ll add good competition. He was in Leicester’s development squad, as it was, when I was there. But he has since kicked on. He did well last season when called upon. He works hard, he’s dedicated, puts himself about and he’s a real athlete.
‘He’ll be a real asset to the squad and complement what we’ve already got. He’s everything the gaffer wants. Quick and strong and he does the dirty side of the game as well. We’ll all have to do that this season. I was maybe a bit lazy at times and cheated because I could get away with it! But I’ll have to pull my finger out and get back this season.’
On his own future, 26-year-old Waghorn said: ‘I’m really happy here. I had a very good season last year and I’ve got two years left on my deal. A lot of stuff has gone on and that’s up to my agent to deal with. I’m just concentrating on my football but my family are settled here and I just want to kick on this season.’
Warburton reported that, if the paperwork is completed in time, Dodoo could debut on Tuesday when Annan Athletic visit Ibrox for matchday two of the Betfred Cup group phase. He
could be joined at some stage of the game by Joey Barton, while goalkeeper Matt Gilks, Lee Hodson and Clint Hill are set to start as Warburton intends to ring the changes through the criticised fourgames-in-nine-days schedule.
‘I thought our energy levels were really good and remember that most of our players have only had 45 minutes against Charleston Battery,’ said Warburton. ‘It was a very pleasing afternoon’s work.’
Mark McGhee revealed that striker Louis Moult, used as a substitute yesterday after taking an injection, would undergo minor groin surgery and miss the first three league games of the season next month.
And the Motherwell boss admitted that his fears over Marvin Johnson getting hurt from a Tavernier tackle were behind the furious protest that saw him lectured by referee Steven McLean. McGhee appeared to grab at fourth official Kevin Clancy to make his point.
McGhee said: ‘Part of the reason I ended up playing Marvin in a different position last season was to protect him from the fact we were rubbish at giving him the ball — and that we were putting him under pressure and he was getting no protection from referees.
‘I thought the challenge was a bit late. I keep waiting for him not getting up one of those times. He’s a brilliant lad in that he doesn’t complain much — and that’s all I was doing.’