‘Special’ return from injury delights Rangers goalscorer Danilo

Fit-again Rangers striker Danilo revealed his joy after climbing off the bench to score the final goal in the 6-0 thrashing of Ross County on Saturday.

The Brazilian picked up a knee injury against Hearts last December and after a long rehabilitation process he played the first 45 minutes of the Light Blues’ 2-0 Premier Sports Cup win over St Johnstone last weekend.

After Cyriel Dessers and Rabbi Matondo had both scored doubles against the Staggies in a one-side William Hill Premiership encounter at Hampden Park, with Tom Lawrence adding a fifth, Danilo made his mark by taking advantage of slack play in the County defence to beat keeper Ross Laidlaw from close range and net his first goal since last November.

The 25-year-old former Feyenoord and Ajax player said: “I don’t have words to describe how special that was because all the rehab, all the process that has been made.

“I thank so much the staff, the physio as well for all the hard work they’ve been doing with me to prepare myself for this moment.

“I have prepared myself in my head ‘are you ready?’ From that moment I had in my head that every minute I would show that I am back fit.

“Since my rehab I was always trying to rush things. Trying to speak with the manager, I feel good, I feel ready.

“But obviously he knows how to protect our players. Especially myself because I always want to rush things.

“It’s been a really long rehab, really difficult for me at some period. But when you look back it was worth it to wait.

“Saturday was the best time to have the chance of scoring. In the last game as well I had some opportunities.

“I was really training hard the whole week. Just preparing myself for every minute, every chance I get. Trying to score.

“I got so much emotion about that. Hopefully there is many more to come. I’m delighted for the result. It was a great game. Everybody was willing to show the quality and get the chance when we got the opportunity. Everybody did a great job.”

Danilo looks forward to playing his part in next week’s Old Firm game at Celtic Park but admits there is more to come from him.

He said: “Honestly I feel ready every day, everywhere. We’re just right now looking forward already for the next one.

“Just prepare ourselves, training, good week. Prepare everybody to get fit and then just get better.

“There’s a lot of work still on the way to become the best version of myself. But I’m working really hard every day. I work in two sessions every day as well just to prepare myself physically, mentally.

“Right now when I have my minutes I just want to be happy and enjoy those moments that I was missing for a long period.

“So I just don’t put too much pressure on me to be the best version of myself. It will come, I know, patiently.”

Meanwhile, Rangers defender Ben Davies has joined Birmingham on loan until the end of the season subject to international clearance.

The 29-year-old centre-back signed from Liverpool on a four-year deal in 2022 for an undisclosed fee.

The Ibrox club confirmed the move on its official X account and said: “Everyone at Rangers wishes Ben well for the campaign.”