CLOT ERRS Jon’s blind to rivalry with Dons
McKinnon told me that Rangers had been on the phone asking about me.
“But I’d got injured at the weekend in a game at Falkirk, which put me out for the rest of the season.
“I thought it was just a dead calf. But it turned into a haematoma, a blood clot type of thing in my leg. It was 10cm long and I was on crutches. It was a nightmare.
“When I got the call, I thought: ‘I need to rush back’. I tried to get myself running so I went for a jog but I think I just made it worse.
“It wasn’t that bad at first, it had actually eased off a bit. But the jog tightened it up and made it bleed more. “Ultrasound and rest helped it, that’s all I could do. At that time, it wasn’t to be for me in terms of going to Rangers. “Towards the end of the season, I was still out so I knew it wouldn’t happen. “But luckily enough, they came back in at the start of this season. It was a loan and they wanted to have a look at me. “I did well enough and thankfully they signed me on a permanent deal. “To get th e chance to play for Rangers Football Club, well, obviously I was delighted.” Despite being a natural centre-half, Bates had played at right-back against Gers – a position Weir was deployed in early in his career. The 20-year- old learned a lot from the former Scotland defender during his time at Ibrox, which culminated in Caixinha throwing him in at Rugby Park in midweek. But Bates admits he could never have predicted such a meteoric rise when he was roughing it on loan at the Shire or Glebe Park. He said: “Obviously Ma rk and Dav ie brought me here but after I signed perma nent l y, they had left a few weeks later. “But the new gaffer has come in and it’s a clean s l a t e for everyone to impress. “Davie was always talking me through things in training. “And he’s already sent me a couple of texts to say well done. If I ever need to talk to Davie, with all his experience of playing centre- back for this club, I know I could go to him for advice.
“But if you told me two years ago that I ’ d be p lay ing for Rangers in the Premiership, I’d have laughed at you, especially having been on loan for six months at East Stirling.”
Making a first-team start was a dream come true for Bates’ dad as well.
The Rangers supporting family were all in Ayrshire for his big night – but by the end of it, David Jnr was gutted not to leave with a victory.
He said: “I was delighted to play in midweek but disappointed not to get three points.
“I knew I was close to being involved but still surprised to get the nod from the gaffer.
“I’ve been a Rangers fan growing up. It was a dream of mine to play here.
“My mum and dad were also buzzing when I first told them Rangers were interested.
“My dad was urging me to get back fit as well. They were all over the moon for me.
“When I told him I was playing against Kilmarnock, my dad joked that he had to work late so couldn’t make it. But 15 minutes later, my mum phoned to say of course they were coming.” Pittodrie, today, 12.30pm, Live on Sky Sports 2
Jon Toral admits he’s clueless about the rivalry that exists between Aberdeen and Rangers.
But the on-loan Ibrox midfielder hopes experiencing a Midlands derby at Birmingham will stand him in good stead for Pittodrie today.
The Spaniard – who will return to Arsenal in the summer – is fit and ready to go for Pedro Caixinha’s side in the Granite City.
He hasn’t been filled in yet on the history of the fixture but Toral said: “I know it’s going to be a tough game and I’m ready.
“Everybody knows Aberdeen are a side in form. But we’ll go there trying to get three points and we know we’re capable of doing that.
“I’m not aware of the rivalry between the clubs, someone will have to explain it to me.
“But that doesn’t change too