Rangers striker Danilo admits he’s still not back to 100 per cent fitness after several months out with injury.
However, the Brazilian is excited to be involved with Philippe Clement and the rest of his first team as they are put through their paces during pre-season.
The 25-year-old has been out of action since December last year when he sustained a serious knee injury against Hearts. The £5m signing from Feyenoord previously dealt with a facial injury in the earlier stages of last season too.
So, the frontman is hoping for a better run in the team this season, as he aims to make an impression on the Scottish Premiership.
“The past few months have been really costly for me but now being back with the team, all the hard work in the gym and outside, it has been paying off,” Danilo said on Rangers TV. “I am still going. It is amazing just to be with the boys.
“The rehab has been crazy to be honest with you. I look back and every time there are things I wish I could do that at the moment I could not do. It was hard, it was hard. I think those moments make me even stronger. It has been difficult to what I was used to every day and every week.
“It was so different when I was with the boys for those couple of days. Everyone was really relaxed with me and really patient if there were some things that I didn’t do so good. They all gave me really good confidence as well.
“There was every moment like I remember my first running, my first contact with the ball again. It was just like being a kid when you start to play football. It was in my happy place to be back on the field.
“I still have a lot to work on and still not 100 per cent there yet but I am working hard to be ready and back on the field.
“Last year I didn’t have the opportunity to have all the pre-season with the boys, I arrived a little bit later. I think now it is good to be started for pre-season with the boys and get that click again, the connections. It has been a really long journey for me.
“Right now the most important thing is to take care of my knee and make sure I am 100 per cent ready for the games. It is good to build the confidence in the friendly games.”
Read more:
-
Rangers manager Philippe Clement 'candidate' for Belgium job
-
The six teams Rangers can face in Champions League qualifier
Fellow countrymen Jefte has arrived at Rangers since Danilo last competitively kicked a ball for the Ibrox club.
He’s been helping the young left-back settle into life in Glasgow.
He added: “It has been so far really good. He is from the different side of Sao Paulo. It is funny that we both speak a little bit different but we both understand each other. It has been nice.
“I have to help him quite a lot as well. That is something for my part to be responsible for that to help him to feel as comfortable as much as possible and be part of this really nice group.
“I think later he is going to get used to the English. He is a really nice boy and I think he is going to contribute a lot of for us and help a lot as well.”
