RANGERS LATEST
JOACHIM BJORKLUND’S Swede dream of helping Rangers to 10 in a row turned into a nightmare.
But the former stopper is praying countryman Filip Helander can play his part in helping stop Celtic reaching that magic number.
As boss Steven Gerrard steps up his recruitment drive at Ibrox he can bank on the return of Helander, whose debut season in Scotland was wrecked by injury.
The 27-year-old Swedish international was one of his key signings last summer when he arrived from Bologna for a £3.5million outlay.
Helander started to show why the club splashed the cash on him with Gerrard hailing his display in the 1-1 draw in Porto as he formed a solid pairing with Connor Goldson.
He also showed his threat in the opposition box with a goal in the 3-0 Betfred Cup semifinal win over Hearts, but was forced off in the dying minutes of the 1-0 final loss to Celtic.
Gerrard revealed the foot injury he picked up in that defeat in early December was “unique” and Helander wasn’t seen again for three months.
He was nearing a comeback just as the season ended early due to Covid-19 but Bjorklund has no doubts Gerrard will feel the benefit of having him back
BY GAVIN BERRY and fully fit ahead of a return to training next week.
Bjorklund, also a central defender, also moved from Serie A to Ibrox when he joined Walter Smith’s men from Vicenza in a £2.5m deal.
He spent two contrasting seasons in Glasgow, the first the historic nine-in-a-row campaign before ending the next season trophyless as he departed for Valencia.
The 49-year-old, now No.2 at Hammarby IF in his homeland, told Record Sport: “It’s hard when you move to a new club in a new country.
“You need time to adapt as every league has its own characteristics. In comparison to Rangers, Filip had been playing for smaller clubs and it takes a while to adapt to the demands and size of the crowds.
“It’s always a shame to get injured but I suppose it’s part and parcel of the game to deal with injuries but hopefully he can come back stronger next season and help Rangers win the title.
“At Rangers I had the chance for 10 and unfortunately we blew it in the end because we should have won it. Where one Swedish defender failed in winning 10, though, I hope another can succeed in stopping Celtic doing it.
“Seriously, it’s a lot of pressure but I’d say there was even more the previous season going for nine because that was Celtic’s old record and it was even more important.” Bjorklund has watched Helander closely since he first came through at Malmo and is convinced he can be a big player for Rangers in a huge season coming up and also become more of a regular for Sweden with national skipper Andreas Granqvist now in the twilight of his career.
The 78-times capped former star said: “Filip has done well when he’s played with the Swedish national team and he’s a big guy so it should work out in Scotland where you need physical attributes.
“But it’s about staying fit next season. If he can stay fit then I’m sure he can be a big asset for Rangers.
“That was my view when he signed because I’d been impressed when I watched him for Malmo and on and off for Sweden.
“He’s big and strong, good at attacking the ball and for a big guy he is more than half decent with the ball at his feet as well and he can play out from the back as Rangers do these days.