Rangers fan favourite Nikola Katic made his return to a starting line-up as he played 70 minutes for the B team in their Challenge Cup victory over Dumbarton.
The big Croatian centre-back, 24, missed the entirety of last season with a demoralising cruciate ligament injury and hasn’t started a match for any Rangers side since February 2020.
Nearly 18 months on from the 2-2 draw with St Johnstone back then, the player started for B side as they ran out 3-2 winners over League One Dumbarton.
Katic played 70 minutes in total before he was replaced with the talented Leon King in the match in what is a pivotal moment in the player’s recovery.
This was also a mightily impressive result for the young Bears, who also started with Jake Hastie and two U18s in the side.
It was Hastie who got the scoring underway for Rangers in the first half before the on-form Alex Lowry made it two just minutes later.
Rangers then made in three in the second half as ex-Blackpool striker Tony Weston continued his fine goalscoring form after some good work from new signing from Man Utd Charlie McCann.
Despite a late Dumbarton rally where they would find two late goals, the young Gers would hold on to record an impressive victory at the Dumbarton Football Stadium.
Rangers B Team coach Brian Gilmour talked up the team’s performance after the game as the Gers prepare to face Ayr United in the next round of the competition.
“If you look at the performance, going three nil up against a quality side in Dumbarton, that part was really, really pleasing,” said Gilmour [Rangers].
“The game obviously takes a swing at the last second, so it was a really exciting game. We knew this would be a step up in opposition (from the Lowland League) so certainly some learning in that.”
Speaking of returning to action, one key first-teamer has also been snapped on social media ahead of his return to the Ibrox squad.
