Fod follows orders... and keeps improving

RANGERS goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart has praised Wes Foderingham for rising to the challenge and shining in the Premiership this term.

The Englishman enjoyed a solid debut campaign in Light Blue last season as he helped Mark Warburton’s side lift the Championship title and Petrofac Training Cup.

Foderingham has arguably been the Gers’ top performer in recent months despite a frustrating run of form that has seen the side slip to third place in the Premiership.

After fending off the competition provided by Matt Gilks in the first half of the season, the 26-yearold now has Jak Alnwick for company at Auchenhowie following his switch from Port Vale.

And Stewart is pleased to see Foderingham raising his game to another level as he strives for further improvement.

He told RangersTV: “I think he has been first class. The competition for the first-choice jersey has been a good battle.

“Matty’s performances in the League Cup were excellent, culminating obviously in his match against Celtic.

“Matty was desperate to get that opportunity in the first team, but because Wes has been so consistent since the start of the season it was awkward for Gilksy to get that opportunity. Unfortunately he made that decision to move on.

“You can see that the whole confidence side of [Foderingham’s] game is so high. He knows the levels he is hoping to attain and in the routines we have been working on in training he is very good.

“He demands high standards from himself and the competition helps him achieve it.

“Obviously last year a few hiccups came in the games but he dealt with them.

“In that period, all of a sudden he began to grow into what the club was about and what a Rangers goalkeeper needed to do and this year his confidence is fantastically high.

“There is an added pressure and the added pressure is how we play. We are looking to build from the back, and the keeper is a main component of that.”