LEADING LIGHT
As Lundstram shines after a difficult start to his Ibrox career, one former team-mate tips him as a future Rangers captain
MICHAEL APPLETON convened a meeting where all his most experienced Oxford United promotion winners arrived in hope of being announced as the club’s new captain. The armband was surprisingly given to a 22-year-old Scouser, John Lundstram, who 11 months earlier landed in League Two following a long fall from the Premier League fringes at Everton.
The thought of Lundstram growing into the role of Rangers skipper is plenty more startling, given how he stumbled through the early weeks of his Ibrox career recently.
However, one man who was on the premises at Oxford and takes a keen interest in Lundstram’s Ibrox progress believes that’s precisely how high he could fly at Rangers in the years to come.
Alex MacDonald, a former Scotland Under-21 international, was a team-mate of Lundstram and another Rangers player, Kemar Roofe when they arrived in England’s fourth tier for career reboots in 2015.
MacDonald was one of anchorman Lundstram’s midfield colleagues. Roofe netted 26 goals as United leapt up to League One.
He then admired Lundstram’s journey, via each rung on the ladder, to the English top flight and a superb ninth-place finish with Sheffield United in 2019-20.
Now with Gillingham, MacDonald harboured no concerns about the ex-England youth international and highly-regarded Everton prospect recovering from the shaky start at Rangers.
It was uncomfortable viewing for a while. Culpability for Jamie Robson’s goal that wrecked the club’s unbeaten domestic run at Tannadice, a Champions League exit to Malmo. Then a red card against Alashkert which came perilously close to removing the Europa League safety net.
Lundstram, 27, was long touted for a move to Rangers when rejecting the chance to extend his Sheffield stay through their miserable relegation season.
Many wondered, during the unforgiving Ibrox start, what all the fuss was about.
MacDonald, however, is sure his pal’s Rangers career is on the ascent after turning the corner with a succession of man-of-the-match performances.
Lundstram was described as a ‘powerhouse’ by manager Steven Gerrard following one such display, at Dundee last month, as Rangers doggedly stayed out in front in their title defence.
That will have meant a lot to Lundstram, says MacDonald, who recalls his team-mate setting a dressing-room tone for attitude and application that his hero Gerrard would have approved of.
MacDonald said: ‘After our promotion to League One at Oxford, a few older lads were eyeing the armband because our captain left. I was certainly in the running. But the manager told us he was giving it to John as the player who can drive the team forward.
‘He always had an older head on his shoulders. I see him at Rangers a long time and think he’s future captain material.
‘He was never massively vocal but, like the manager he’s playing for now, leads by example on the pitch and is exceptional off it. Even though he came through at Everton, as a Liverpool fan, to go to a massive club run by Gerrard was too good for John to turn down. He got off to a sticky start. I’m glad he’s turned it round and I knew he would. Because I know how good a player he is.
‘Everyone else knew it, the frustrating part was he wasn’t hitting the ground running or doing it from day one. Now, though, he’s started finding the back of the net as well, playing a lot better. Let’s hope he keeps up that form.’ Following a string of unsatisfying loan moves in the Championship and in League One, Lundstram bit the bullet and cut ties with Everton in the summer of 2015. In search of regular games, he signed for Oxford, who had just finished 13th in the bottom tier. ‘When he first arrived, he was a holding midfielder,’ recalled MacDonald, who featured for Falkirk and Inverness.
‘His range of passing, left or right, for a young lad was exquisite. He sat in front of the back four, dictated games.
‘As I watched him grow, he turned into a No 8, made things happen in the final third and was so powerful running from midfield.
‘He spent time in the gym making himself bigger as he played a big part at Sheffield United and he’s now the complete midfielder.
‘With his size, power and passing range, everything fits for him being a fantastic player for a great club.
‘I can only see him going from strength to strength at Rangers after his early blip.’
MacDonald signed for Oxford a fortnight before Roofe (left) moved from West Brom, initially on loan in February 2015, and the club rallied towards the end of that season.
Roofe’s goals — an impressive 26 in 48 appearances — were among the highlights of the promotion campaign that followed in 2015/16.
MacDonald recalled: ‘Michael Appleton had this thing about third or fourth loan moves being really beneficial for all parties — because it’s sink-or-swim time.
‘Kemar had been out at a few clubs. For whatever reason, they hadn’t quite worked. But he was a breath of fresh air. A proper professional who’s always looked after himself.
‘He got his head down from day one. I had a spell living with him in a house with four others. He wasn’t interested in going out, having drinks. He just wanted what was best for him and his football.
‘He was the star of the show. He knew what he was doing, it was a stepping stone. He wanted to score, win games, get plaudits. And he did.
‘I’ve followed him ever since, to Leeds and Anderlecht. Then he signed for one of my favourite teams, Rangers, and I knew he’d love it.’ Roofe’s goal record of 18 in 36 appearances last season perhaps went under-appreciated in some quarters as other individuals grabbed more headlines.
He has netted eight times in 17 outings for Rangers and Jamaica already this season.
With Alfredo Morelos toiling to post figures befitting of his perennial top- scoring status, Roofe can fill the void in front of goal if avoiding the niggling injuries that interfered on occasion last term.
MacDonald added: ‘If Kemar is fit, then he’ll score more than 20 league goals — every year.
‘He was a major influence on our promotion at Oxford, Wembley trip and cup runs in 2016.
‘He played off the left and right, up front, in a 10. Wherever we put him, he looked as if he was going to win us the game.
‘It’s great seeing him and John doing so well with Rangers.’