Rangers injury record over the last few seasons leaves a lot to be desired with Tom Lawrence being one of many to have suffered a series of setbacks.
On more than one occasion the Wales international was said to be close to a return only to have to go back to the drawing board and back on the treatment table.
Now that he is fully fit again, Rangers manager Philippe Clement will be hoping that he can get the best out of Tom Lawrence as the player himself reveals that predecessors in the Ibrox hotseat maybe weren’t quite as considerate in their approach to his health, as told to RTV.
Rangers yet to see the best from Tom Lawrence
Lawrence hit the ground running when he signed last season, playing as a number ten and cutting in from the wider forward positions too.
Not only did he bring experience but he also brought goals and assists.
Now, under his third manager in just 18-months, Tom Lawrence is keen to show that fans haven’t seen the best of him yet, via RTV:
“Maybe the two games in such a short period didn’t help me out as such. But I feel back to my best now fitness wise and hopefully my quality shows through that. You can do all the training in the world – and let me tell you, the manager trains us hard – but it’s different to matches.
“Match fitness is completely different to training and that’s what I am trying to get in the bank. How much more is there to come from me? Hopefully a lot more.
“You take it game by game, training session by training session. I really hope I can show my best football. The gaffer has been really good with me in helping me to find the rhythm. If he thinks I’m a little bit tired then he won’t just throw me in, like other managers have done in the past. He has been really good at asking me how I am feeling.”
Lawrence could be essential for Philippe Clement
Rangers need as many good players as possible in the team and this is why previous managers may have tried to rush him back to playing.
Michael Beale, in particular, seems to be getting it in the neck from Lawrence after the previous Rangers manager picked him for two games in succession, despite just coming back from his lengthy absence.
Philippe Clement seems to be taking a more conservative approach to players in his squad who have been out and we have seen already that he won’t be forced into picking those who aren’t 100%
Tom Lawrence looked sharper playing in a deeper midfield role against St Mirren and it may be that this is where his future lies at Rangers so that Todd Cantwell can play in his preferred number ten role.
When they are both fit, it’s not a bad problem to have.
