Ex-Rangers defender Filip Helander claims that hesitation over having surgery cost him an additional six months at Ibrox due to injury.
The Swedish international centre-back, 30, impressed during his time in Glasgow but was horrendously unluckily with major injury problems which had a wide-ranging impact.
Rangers had spent a reported £3m to bring Big Fil to Glasgow from Serie A side Bologna and given his expensive role in the team was sorely missed across the last two seasons.
An important player in the club’s run to 55, the loss of Filip Helander was monumental to Rangers and what’s more the defender appears to suggest it could’ve been avoidable.
Filip Helander hints injury lay-off was avoidable
Discussing initial hesitancy over surgery on the foot injury which devastated his time in Glasgow, Filip Helander claims that his time at Rangers might’ve been very different.
It comes with the centre-back signing a fresh deal at Danish Superliga club OB Odense, where he claims it’s competition and not fitness which has limited him to only one league appearance.
“It should have gone faster [the injury],” Filip Helander told Swedish publication Expressen.
“It took longer than it needed to because we didn’t really know how to treat it.
“Instead of having surgery right away, I rehabbed it without surgery. I lost almost six months on that. It was tough that it took so long.
“At the same time, you never know if you will even come back at all, so I am very happy that I can play football today.
“I am fully healthy to play the match, but as always it is a competitive situation. You don’t get a place automatically. The best play.”
Filip Helander joined Rangers in the summer of 2019 but, rather remarkably, injury limited the centre-back to only 60 appearances for the Gers.
Whilst everyone at Ibrox will be wishing Big Fil all the best in his career, it’s undoubtedly a story of what might’ve been!
