Balogun is glad to be staying on at Rangers

LEON BALOGUN admitted he couldn’t think of leaving Rangers without playing in front of a full Ibrox as he extended his contract until the summer of 2022. The Nigeria defender triggered an extra year in his deal by playing a set amount of games, with the formalities of the agreement now concluded. Balogun has made 28 appearances for Steven Gerrard’s side since arriving on a free transfer last summer but has yet to play in front of fans due to Covid restrictions. ‘I am proud to be a part of this amazing club and I felt that pretty early on I had fallen in love with the club and the working environment,’ he said. ‘The way the players and the management staff work and the way the club works is a big family, I am proud that I can call myself a Rangers player. ‘I am happy to be a part of the team that won the league, but what we have been saying recently is we are just getting started. ‘One thing, too, I was never going to leave before witnessing a full Ibrox Stadium, and if everyone was happy, I was going to stay.’ Meanwhile, injured Ryan Jack remains an absentee for tomorrow’s visit of Hibs after Gerrard revealed that he remains the subject of specialist examination. ‘It’s the news we are waiting on,’ said Gerrard. ‘The doctor has a Zoom call with the specialist later today on Ryan’s situation. ‘We are waiting to see what we can do and when we can get him back. We are doing everything we can to get him back as quickly as we can.’