Jack is planning a dream finale to make up for injury nightmare
THIS time last year, Ryan Jack was propped up in a hospital bed, contemplating a summer of missed opportunities. A persistent calf problem had prematurely ended the midfielder’s season and corrective surgery had ensured he would not be available to take part in Scotland’s first assault on a major tournament since 1998.
Having played a key role in his country’s play-off wins over Israel and Serbia, Jack was heartbroken at missing out not only on the Euro 2020 finals but the first four months of Rangers’ Premiership title defence.
Little did he know that he would ultimately find himself on the cusp of new and arguably even more exciting adventures.
On Wednesday, he is in line to start for Rangers in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt. Next month he is likely to be involved in Steve Clarke’s squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine.
‘It was close to a year ago this week that I had my op,’ he reflects. ‘I probably wouldn’t have thought then that I would be standing talking to you guys about playing in a European final.
‘It was a tough year for me but I
suppose this helps make
It’s been a tough year but if you work hard, you get your rewards
up for missing the Euros. It’s mad the way football works but sometimes if you work hard, you get your rewards.’
Jack’s fitness has long been a source of underlying concern on account of knee problems that took root during his time at Aberdeen.
Yet when fit, he offers something solid to Rangers, a dogged and competitive edge in midfield that is elevated by his ability to read and pass his way through games against quality European opposition.
Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has opted to go easy on the 30-yearold’s legs over the past weeks. Last spotted hobbling out of the 3-1 semi-final win over Leipzig, he has been given the all-clear for Seville.
‘I took a knock last week but it’s nothing major,’ he confirms. ‘It was a long process, a long journey but, since I’ve been back, the staff have been superb to keep me available. It’s not many clubs that you will play for where it’s three games every week.
‘In between that, you are training and you get niggles and knocks. I feel great now, the injuries have all been good, touch wood. Hopefully, it stays that way.
‘With the two cup finals coming, there was no point taking any risks. It’s given me a chance to come back off my feet and focus on things off the pitch. It’s been the perfect time for me to have a down week. I’ll be ready for Wednesday.’
Last year’s injury kept Jack out for eight months in total, forcing him to miss the clinching of the title and the opening months of the new campaign. Rangers were still in a strong position to defend their title by the time he re-emerged in November but his comeback game against Ross County proved to be Steven Gerrard’s last in charge.
Gerrard’s flit to Aston Villa then led to the club approaching Van Bronckhorst and there were teething problems domestically as a six-point lead evaporated after the winter break.
A thumping 3-0 defeat at Celtic in February shifted the momentum in the title race and confirmation of the Parkhead side’s title win arrived with their draw at Dundee United in midweek.
‘The league’s been a sore one, there’s no denying it,’ admits Jack. ‘Having the European journey has maybe taken that blow away a bit because we have had a lot to focus on and it’s been massive to get to a European final.
‘That doesn’t come around often for a Scottish team but, while we are delighted to get there, our main objective at the start of the season was the league.
‘We came up short in that sense but sometimes that happens in football and you need to dust yourselves down. We’ll come back next year and give the league a good shot again.’
While there’s no disputing Jack’s competitive qualities as a player, there is an inscrutable side to his personality. Guarded in interviews and certainly not one for spontaneous bursts of emotion, Jack nevertheless has a patriotic streak that makes international football such an important component of his career.
Although Billy Gilmour and Callum McGregor have sewn up the deeplying midfield position in Clarke’s team, Jack remains a valued and trusted option for the coach. If there’s a need to lock a game down, either against Ukraine or in the final against Wales, Jack could have a key role to play in helping his country to Qatar 2022.
‘It was massive for me to play a part in getting us to the Euros,’ he continues. ‘It was disappointing not to go but that’s football and sometimes what happens. ‘Hopefully this time round, I can play another part in helping us get to a World Cup and make those finals if we get there.
‘It could be a big year but, at the minute, I don’t have time to sit and look ahead and process what’s going on because there is a massive game every two minutes. ‘We’ve semi-finals, finals, the European final, the Scottish Cup final then hopefully I’ve got the Scotland squad to look forward to — and then there’s another two massive games.
‘It will be a huge two months but that’s what you always want.’