RANGERS midfielder Jordan Rossiter has admitted he feared he would never play for the first-team again after making his latest comeback from injury in the win over Hamilton yesterday.
The 21-year-old has been plagued by a host of fitness problems since making the move to Ibrox from Liverpool in the summer of 2016, with the outing at the Hope CBD Stadium just his 13th appearance for the club.
And after helping his teammates to a 4-1 win, Rossiter conceded that at his lowest point, he feared he may never play for Rangers at the top level again.
“It’s been tough,” said Rossiter. “I played against Hibs in the last game of last season and then I suffered an ankle injury over the summer which was a set-back, but these things happen.
“You start to think you’ll never get back to being involved with the first team, but I’ve now managed to do that.
“We have a lot of injuries at the moment and now I have got my chance and hopefully I did okay against Hamilton.
“This is where I want to be. I’ve had a difficult pre-season and struggled with injuries but to be involved against Hamilton was great, but I have a long way to go until the end of the season and I need to get as many appearances as I can.”
Despite the encouraging display at the heart of the Rangers midfield, Rossiter knows that he still has a long way to go to cement a regular place in the team. And he admits he is fortunate to even still be at the club such has been his lack of availability to the side.
“One hundred percent I’m out to prove myself,” he said. “I want to be a Rangers player and I can’t see anywhere bigger than here in my career.
“I’m lucky to still be here after my injury problems. I can’t lie – my development has been hampered by the injuries but I’m still only 21 and I want to be here and improve.
“It was great to be back out there as it’s been a tough time for me. I suffered a little niggle at the start of pre-season and I worked hard so it’s great to be back and playing with the lads for 80 minutes.”
Rossiter is hoping that he can now pay back the people who have supported him at the club through his darkest days by showing what he is capable of on the pitch for Rangers, including manager Steven Gerrard.
“He’s been brilliant and to put me in today after a few games – he has faith in me and I want to repay him and the fans who are still behind me,” he said.
“It’s been a tough road and I just want to pay everyone back who has been with me all the way.
“The physio Stevie Walker has been fantastic with me and my family and everyone here. Every boss since I’ve been here has been fantastic with me and I just want to pay the club back.”
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