Nicky Clark made a short visit to Ibrox yesterday.
He was flying out to Ibiza on holiday early in the evening, but his intention was still to dwell on the moment as he was unveiled as the latest player to agree to sign for Rangers as a free agent on September 1.
Having been released by the club as a youngster, returning to Ibrox was a matter of personal as well as professional satisfaction. Clark has earned his return, and there was a fitting symmetry in the fact that it was 30 years ago that his father, Sandy, also joined Rangers. The two have worked together, at Aberdeen then at Queen of the South, with Nicky scoring 41 goals as the team managed by Allan Johnston and assistant Sandy, comfortably earned promotion.
The strikes included one at Ibrox, when Queens knocked Rangers out of the Ramsdens Cup last season. During Clark's discussions with Ally McCoist, the Rangers manager jokingly described the goal as "lucky", but Clark's prolific form could not be dismissed so casually.
Clubs in England and Scotland were keen on him, but once he knew of Rangers' interest it was the move he was set on. His father once formed a strike partnership with McCoist, and both will now be guiding his career. From playing in the back garden at a young age to know that his father will "boot my arse" if he does not look after himself during his holiday, it is clear that Sandy will always be the most prominent influence.
"He gave me a lot of advice when I was growing up," Clark said. "He has showed me the footage of him scoring goals for Rangers. It's on VHS, not DVD . . . He was always quick to do that. Looking back now, leaving here when I was younger has probably worked out for the best for me. I've played elsewhere and played every week.
"It did dent my confidence a bit when Rangers let me go. But I had good people around me at the time, like my dad, who helped me through it. I went straight to Aberdeen when I left here and did well up there. I've done well at other clubs, too. So my confidence is now as high as it could be. It is funny how it works. A lot of boys develop differently at different stages of their career. There were other lads who were here at the same time as me who have gone on to do well elsewhere."
Clark was part of a youth intake that included John Fleck, Darren Cole and Danny Wilson. The Ibrox coaches were concerned about his height, but he has performed with shrewd instincts and awareness this season. Primarily a goalscorer, his movement and touch were impressive throughout Queens' double-winning campaign.
Apart from last season's cup tie, his only other appearance at Ibrox was at half-time during a pre-season friendly against Everton. Some of the club's youngsters took part in a bounce match to entertain the crowd. "I scored," Clark grinned. He will have to battle for his place in the starting line-up, since Rangers have also agree to sign Jon Daly, the former Dundee United centre-forward, on September 1 and remain interested in Kenny Miller.
There may also be a further midfield addition this season – after Nicky Law agreed to sign following his departure from Motherwell – with Arnold Peralta, the Honduran internationalist, believing that he will be joining Rangers later this summer. He is currently preparing for a friendly against Israel in New York, ahead of World Cup qualifying games against Costa Rica, Jamaica and USA, but is adamant that he will be joining his team-mates Emilio Izaguirre of Celtic and Hibernian's Jorge Claros in Scotland. "We still have not quite signed the papers to complete the transfer, but I am hoping that will happen this week and the deal will be completed," Peralta said.
The 24-year-old has been watched this season by Kenny McDowall, the Rangers assistant manager, and could provide competition for places with Ian Black and Kyle Hutton as an industrious and bullish central midfielder. Having featured in the Olympic Games last summer, he has also now established himself as a regular in the Honduran national team.
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