Scotland boss Steve Clarke has praised Rangers star Ryan Jack as the midfielder makes a return to the Scotland fold during the international break.
The ex-Aberdeen captain, 30, has had a difficult time of it for club and country as of late after missing Rangers’ 55-winning title run-in and Scotland’s Euro 2020 campaign after surgery on a troublesome calf problem last season.
But Ryan Jack has already begun making up for lost time with the Rangers star’s quality evident on club duties in recent weeks and now he’s back leaving an impression with Scotland.
Jacko returned to the Scotland fold in the 1-1 friendly draw with Poland, getting 13 minutes under his belt for his country.
With another friendly away to Austria to come, Scotland will be hoping to utilise Ryan Jack even more and Steve Clarke has paid tribute to the Rangers star’s quality and resilience.
Rangers star Ryan Jack praised by Scotland boss
“It’s good, I’m really pleased for Ryan. It was a really tough time for him and he had to dig deep and get his work done properly,” said Clarke [Glasgow Times].
“But you can see the way he’s come back that he’s hit the ground running so he obviously did his rehab properly and trained very diligently.
“He’s back in good shape and it was just nice to see him back in a Scotland strip and running onto the pitch to represent his country.
“I know Ryan was pleased to be out there and it was nice to have him back.
“All my players are important to me. But Ryan, before the emergence of young Billy, was a key player in midfield.
“I’ve always said it, I thought the performance of Ryan Jack and Callum McGregor in Serbia was absolutely crucial to the team performance that night.
“He’s a big player for us and it’s great to have him back in the squad.”
Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Chelsea’s Billy Gilmour, Man United’s Scott McTominay and Celtic’s Calum McGregor in the Scotland squad, it speaks volumes regarding Jacko’s ability.
Meanwhile, Rangers have been handed a double-edged international boost regarding another midfielder in the Ibrox squad.
