FRAME & FORTUNE
SCOTT ARFIELD didn’t need reminding of Steven Gerrard’s fiercely combative nature.
He just had to glance above the TV set every day at a picture on his wall.
As Arfield began moving his belongings out of his Huddersfield base for the move to Rangers, an image of a close encounter with his midfield idol had to be taken down and packed into a box.
The snap was Gerrard as a Liverpool midfielder crashing through a challenge on him during his Burnley days on Boxing Day 2014.
Arfield is proud of the picture and said: “It was at Turf Moor, I’m sure Raheem Sterling scored. I was given a picture afterwards. Steven was tackling me and I was jumping out of the way!
“The picture was up in the house. I’ve actually just taken it down because I was moving. Playing BY CRAIG SWAN against him was one of the highlights of my career. I hope to soak up as much as I can from him.”
Now, as opposed to being in opposition, the pair are as one trying to spark a Rangers revival.
And although the picture might be over four years old and Gerrard’s boots have been replaced by brown brogues, Arfield has no doubts his new gaffer’s competitive fires will burn just as brightly.
Gerrard’s arrival has cemented Arfield’s decision because, make no mistake, it was a big one. At 29, he had just helped Burnley into the Europa League after an amazing season under the expert guidance of boss Sean Dyche.
The Turf Moor gaffer has been a huge influence on Arfield’s career. Dyche believed in him when others wouldn’t so there must have been a temptation to continue the relationship.
The pair could meet again in the summer qualifiers with Rangers also in the Europa League and Arfield said: “It would be unbelievable, wouldn’t it?
“I feel it is inevitable. It is one of those things in football. It is the only profession where you think these things are going to happen.
“Sean’s influence was really the faith he showed in me. Probably the only manager who had done that before was John Hughes (at Falkirk) as my three Huddersfield managers never really did that.
“I never felt as if I had a full run of games but as soon as I went