Kai Kennedy insists he was determined to keep his head amidst transfer speculation this summer - and work on his body after coronavirus struck.
The Rangers youngster has been linked with strong interest - and rumoured bids of up to £1 million - from West Ham in recent days but has instead joined Dunfermline on loan.
The agreement will see the 19-year-old spend the season at East End Park, although Steven Gerrard has retained the option to recall the talented winger in January.
The move brings to an end a turbulent spell for Kennedy, whose short and long-term future was left uncertain when a positive Covid-19 test coincided with transfer talk.
He said: “I just kept my head, kept working hard no matter what happened behind the scenes.
“Whatever happened happened. I am just glad to be here and getting back to playing football.
"I am ready for Saturday. I just need to keep my head and work hard.
“The message from Rangers was ‘go out on loan to prepare and be ready to go back and be part of the Rangers first-team’.
“That is my ambition but while I’m here I want to do very well for the club and hopefully do well personally.”
Kennedy was forced to quarantine for an extended spell after catching coronavirus just when he was looking forward to an important season in his promising career.
But the 5’4’’ teenager has revealed he was intent on making the most of his housebound stretch as he tries to prepare himself physically for the demands of first-team football.
Ahead of a possible debut against Stenhousemuir this weekend, he added: “I caught Covid a few weeks ago and was meant to come here after that, then other stuff happened.
“I had to isolate and I just used that time to work hard and get fit, and focused for the season ahead. I felt okay and I managed to get through it.
“It was a bit of a challenge but Rangers sent me a bike and I had my own equipment — weights and things like that — at home. I just used the time to put in graft.
"It might sound daft, but I feel like that period actually helped me to get stronger and more physical. That’s something I’ve been wanting to focus on, more than anything.
"The bike kept me fit but I was more interested in adding strength to my game.
"I’ve been aware of my size for a while now and I’m constantly working hard in the gym, keeping on top of my diet and nutrition, drinking a lot of protein shakes — this season I want that to shine through.
“Diet is just as important, you can do as much gym as you want but if your diet is not right it is not going to work. My ambition is just to keep getting better.”
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