Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has confirmed that he has failed in talks with defender Connor Goldson over trying to give him a break from the first team this season.
The centre back joined the Light Blues from Premier League side Brighton over the summer transfer window and has established himself into a key player for Gerrard’s side, operating alongside the likes of either Joe Worrall or Nikola Katic at the heart of the defence.
However, having had problems with injury and fitness in the past, the manager has admitted he has tried talking to Goldson over sitting out the side but has failed in his suggestions.
He told the Scottish Sun: “Connor has been huge for us from day one.
“When I first sat down with Connor I got a feeling that he was a winner and a leader. He wanted to play football. We have tried to manage Connor on different occasions, to pull him out and give him a breather. He won’t have it.
“He was frustrated with the big chunk of football that he missed because of the situation in his chest a few years ago. Being back up at Brighton he felt that he should have had more opportunities and that’s the reason he was desperate to go somewhere and play.
“I can tell by his face, he reminds me in many ways of Jamie Carragher who would get confrontational when you tried to rest him. That’s the mentality we need at this football club, we need players who are desperate to put their bodies on the line. He certainly ticks that box.”
Opinion
There is little questioning that there are some players out there – who will not be named but they and the fans know who they are – who do not seem as though they are in football for the game as much as they are for the money. Goldson is not one of them. The centre back has been an impressive stalwart for the Gers this season and it is no surprise to hear that Gerrard has failed to talk him into having a game or two out of the lineup. He would have been mightily frustrated by not playing much during his time at Brighton and so his move to Ibrox has been great to him so far. He will not want to find himself heading back to the sidelines any time soon, through injury, suspension or a break and so unless something serious strikes him down, Gerrard will have to keep playing him – lucky for the manager the defender is such a good talent.