CONNOR GOLDSON doesn't fail to prepare. This season, he isn't prepared to fail at Ibrox.
The Englishman's third campaign with Rangers is on course to the best of his time under Steven Gerrard's guidance. It could also be the most memorable of Goldson's career to date.
The faith that Gerrard has in the 27-year-old has only grown stronger since Goldson made the move from Brighton and Hove Albion during the summer of revolution two seasons ago.
But it has taken time for Goldson to be fully appreciated by the Gers support. They are now seeing what Gerrard has long believed possible and what the defender knew he was capable of.
The seasons before Goldson arrived in Glasgow were frustrating and there is a sense he is now making up for lost time. The months he spent fighting to save his career after heart surgery were not in vain and his time watching on at Brighton only served to inspire Goldson to really make his mark elsewhere.
He would make 54 appearances in his first term at Ibrox and 52 in a prematurely ended second campaign.
On Thursday, he made it 19 outings for the season as Rangers maintained their unbeaten run with a draw against Benfica. Goldson is a stalwart of this side and the ever-present wouldn't have it any other way.
Goldson said: “I was used to that when I was younger and if you look at the seasons at Shrewsbury when I was in the lower leagues, they were 46-game seasons and cup competitions.
“I think in one season I played 55 games there. In the few seasons before I came to Rangers, I hadn’t done it after my operation and then not playing at Brighton.
“It was just getting my body back used to it again and in the first season I struggled with it a wee bit, especially the quick turnaround from Thursday to Sunday. In the second season, I felt that I was getting used to it and I was getting stronger and now this season I feel very good.
“I know my body, I realise what I need and what I need in between games. I feel good.
“You have a routine between matches in terms of what you do, whether it is stretches, in the pool, massages and you make sure between games that you get that stuff done. You have to prepare the best that you can.
“Listen, you can’t control every single game and play every single game, but as long as I can look myself in the mirror and know that I did everything I could to give myself the best chance.”
His most recent outing may not have been the best of the campaign but low points have been in short supply for Goldson this term.
The unfortunate own goal and late collapse that saw Benfica earn a point clearly irked Goldson but it has been a season of positives, both individually and collectively.
“I would say it is up there,” he said when asked if this was the most enjoyable time of his career. “I don’t feel like I have felt like this for a few years when I am physically able to go every three days and mentally being this confident and in a good place.
“We all know how quickly you can come down in football, it can be a rollercoaster as we saw on Thursday night. But hopefully long may this continue.
“I am happy to keep going because I feel physically in a good place and I want to be playing every game. It has been good so far to be playing every three days and hopefully that can continue.
“I feel like my body is used to it now having done it for the last two seasons and I feel I am ready to play another 60-game season if required.”
The target this season has to be silverware for Rangers and an unbeaten start at home and abroad has offered supporters reasons to be optimistic.
Goldson claimed his first trophy of the campaign on Friday as he was named the Player of the Month for October.
There could be far more significant prizes to come if he and Rangers can maintain their momentum this term.
Goldson said: “I am happy with the award, happy for my family and happy for the team because it shows that we are going in the right direction.
“I am in the prime of my career, I feel strong physically and mentally and I am going into games feeling in a good place, which is always good.
“That is reflective of the team as well, not just myself. As a team, we feel in a good place and long may that continue.”
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