Rebuild your team around my boy Josh

SAYS DEAN WINDASS

ON a dark Old Firm day for Rangers, the performance of Josh Windass was a rare shaft of light amid the gloom. Now the attacking midfielder’s father has urged Mark Warburton to build his team around his son if he wants to usher in a brighter future at Ibrox. A relatively unheralded summer signing from Accrington Stanley, Windass (below) was one of very few players in the visiting ranks who impressed in the 5-1 mauling at Celtic Park. His pace, power and positivity ensured he escaped the chorus of condemnation that was subsequently showered upon big-name midfield colleagues Joey Barton and Niko Kranjcar after the Parkhead humiliation. With just five games gone, Rangers are four points behind Brendan Rodgers’ league leaders, who also boast a game in hand. And if Warburton wants to inject speed and creativity into his unconvincing side, former Aberdeen and Hull City striker Dean believes he must draft a blueprint with his son at the centre of it. ‘The Celtic team that Brendan Rodgers is building has energy and pace,’ said Windass Senior. ‘I don’t think Rangers have enough legs in their team. If you look at guys such as Scott Sinclair and James Forrest, Celtic do. ‘There is only Josh and Barrie McKay in the Rangers team that are going to unlock the door. They need more than that. ‘Give Josh the ball because he has pace and power. ‘In my opinion, as a supporter and a dad, he didn’t get the ball enough against Celtic. ‘Josh is still young. He’s learning the game and he has come from Accrington. ‘But the one thing you know is that when he gets the ball, he makes things happen.’ After signing a pre-contract agreement with Rangers, Windass and fellow signing from Accrington Stanley, Matt Crooks, famously parked in the wrong car park at Hampden and had to walk through Celtic fans on their way into the Scottish Cup semi-final in April. The pair were able to laugh about the incident after Rangers won on penalties, following a 2-2 draw. But playing in front of the Celtic fans on Saturday was a far less pleasurable experience for Windass as Moussa Dembele scored the first Old Firm league hat-trick in 50 years. Yet Windass senior believes his son will be stronger for his bruising experience. ‘Josh told me he had to take a couple of paracetamol when he left the ground because the noise the Celtic supporters made when they scored was so loud it gave him a headache,’ he continued. ‘But to play in that stadium with that atmosphere at 22 years old will only help him learn. ‘He did not let himself down, but you only need to look at the scoreline to see that Celtic were a lot stronger. ‘Josh isn’t happy with the result but he was with how he played. I was too. He did okay. ‘It was the biggest game of his life and he will learn from this. Nothing fazes Josh at all. ‘I thought he was the best player for Rangers but they lost 5-1. I told him, though, that he didn’t let anybody down and that was the most important thing. ‘He loved the experience and it will only make him stronger. I’m proud of him. I know he’ll be a top player. ‘And Rangers will learn from this. I don’t think they will be so far apart come the end of the season. ‘I even think Warburton will learn from it.’