Forward thinking to spoil mentor’s progress

Elgin: Sutherland backs Foran but wants to win

Midfielder Emerson Hyndman reckons he only got his chance to sample the FA Cup because Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe had more important Premier League business to attend to.

But the new Rangers loan signing hopes to make an immediate impact at Ibrox after insisting the Scottish Cup is his priority.

The US international and fellow January recruit Jon Toral are likely to be introduced to the Gers faithful today when they host fourth-round opponents Motherwell.

It will be the 20-yearold’s first competitive action being part of a secondstring Cherries line-up which ended up being upset by Millwall in the English version.

Howe and a number of other top-flight managers seem to view the cup as being of secondary importance but Hyndman is pleased to see the Scottish competition taken more seriously.

He said: “I want to make my mark in any game I can play. This competition is huge for us, we need to win but we take it one game at a time. We’ll be looking to try to win the thing.

“Honestly, any cup competition is special because, in the end, the reward is a winner’s medal.

“Sometimes it’s like the cups are of secondary importance for certain clubs down south – but clubs have different situations. Teams in the Premier League can be playing three or four competitions at the same time and it can be taxing and changes have to be made.

“But the situation here is we will be looking to really make our mark.”

Gers reached last year’s final only to suffer last-gasp Hampden defeat when David Gray snatched a historic win for Hibernian.

But Hyndman believes the Ibrox support are right to demand a return to past successes and added: “I completely agree with the expectation levels here, supporters are totally right with what they want.

“It is a club which I always remember was playing in Europe growing up, it is a massive club.

“There is always pressure but, at the same time, I want to be able to cope with that pressure and channel it into doing what is best for my team on the day.”

Texas-born Hyndman has managed to squeeze in a 45-minute run-out alongside his new colleagues during last week’s friendly defeat to RB Leipzig.

The former Fulham youngster is confident he will quickly find his feet under manager Mark Warburton.

He said: “It has been brilliant so far. There is an intensity in training which is always good, I think the thing is to focus on Rangers and not just Scottish football generally. I have to concentrate on how the team plays adapt to it as quick as I can.

“There is always an adjustment period, it is just how quick it is for me. In training I’ve felt like I adapted quite quickly.”

Elgin City’s Shane Sutherland hopes Richie Foran succeeds as Caley Thistle manager, but only after the forward has helped the Black and Whites inflict a painful Scottish Cup defeat on his former captain today.

Sutherland began his career with Inverness and broke into the team when Foran was captain before joining Elgin following his release by the Highlanders in 2013.

After more than seven years with the club as a player, Foran was handed his first job in management at the age of just 36 last summer following the departure of John Hughes.

The Irishman has had a tough introduction with Caley Jags bottom of the table after winning just three league games.

Sutherland always felt Foran was destined for management and has backed him to turn things around, but he is determined to cause an upset with the League 2 club this afternoon.

Sutherland said: “Richie was good for me as a fellow forward.

“He always had a real never-say-die attitude and that’s something I learned from him.

“Even when he was injured he was still a really good captain.

“I trained with Inverness last season when I was playing for Peterhead and Richie was doing his coaching badges.

“It always seemed inevitable that when the job came up he would get it. Some would maybe say he got it too young, but age is just a number.

“He needs a bit of time, but I’m keen to see him do well – apart from this game.

“I certainly wish him all the best in his management career.”

Sutherland, who is Elgin’s leading scorer on 20 goals, will play after shaking off a knee injury suffered in last weekend’s 3-2 win against Annan Athletic.

The 26-year-old is relishing his first encounter with his former club and added: “It’s good

“Competition is special because the reward is a winner’s medal” “He needs a bit of time, but I’m keen to see him do well – apart from this game”

to pit our wits against a Premiership team. We know it’s going to be tough, but it will be a good test.

“It will be the first game I’ve played against Inverness since I left, which adds a bit for me.

“It seems like a long time since the draw was made, but there has been a good build-up and there should be a decent crowd.

“It’s something to look forward to. There’s not much pressure on us, it’s all on them.

“We go into every game thinking we are going to win, otherwise we are as well not being there.

“We have to respect the team we are playing. They are a Premiership team for a reason, but hopefully we have luck on our side and we catch them on an off-day.”

Emerson Hyndman