LEIGHTON CLARKSON will step into the unknown and get his first taste of facing the Old Firm when he lines up at Ibrox this afternoon.
But the midfielder needs no introduction to the rivalry between Aberdeen and Rangers as Jim Goodwin’s side go in search of three points and Premiership bragging rights against familiar foes.
The Pittodrie boss filled Clarkson in on the history of the famous fixture before he put pen-to-paper on a loan deal from Liverpool earlier this summer.
Victory over Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side would mean plenty to the Red Army and be another eye-catching sign of the progress that Aberdeen are making this term.
And Clarkson is well aware of the significance of the next 90 minutes as a he and a handful of his team-mates prepare for another new experience at Ibrox.
“I have heard lots,” Clarkson said. “It is a rivalry, there is no need to play it down or anything like that. It is a massive game, there is a bit more on it.
“We just need to focus on ourselves and not them. I feel that the last three games we have won and been really focused on ourselves rather than the opposition.
“It has paid off so I don’t see why we should look at what Rangers are doing and how it is behind the scenes and stuff like that. We need to perform to the best of our ability and hopefully it is enough.
“Before I signed I spoke to Jim on the phone and he told me about the rivalry and stuff like that. It is one of those games where there is a lot riding on it, but it is one that we are confident we can go there and give it our best shot.
“Definitely [I enjoy these occasions]. It is something from young that I have been a part of. Coming up through Liverpool, the Man Citys, the Evertons, they were always rash and dirty and stuff like this, but they were the games you looked forward to. I just can’t wait to play and see how it goes.”
The Ibrox clash will be another box ticked for Clarkson as he continues to make a name for himself in Scottish football and reap the rewards of his loan stint away from Anfield.
The 21-year-old arrived at Pittodrie with a burgeoning reputation after making his Liverpool debut in December 2019. The following year, he was handed his Champions League bow.
Clarkson is no stranger to the big game occasion and he is sure that experience will stand him in good stead as Aberdeen seek to record a fourth successive win in all competitions.
Clarkson said: “I suppose you can be judged a bit differently [in games like this] but I’m not focusing on that. I’m focused on doing my bit for the team, hopefully get a win or even a draw - a good result that will put more points on the table.
“After that there’s another three games before the World Cup break and we want to finish strongly going into that.
“Bravery is important. When you come up against big teams, it doesn’t matter where even in Spain or England, then you need to have that bravery on the ball and also show them the respect they deserve but get after them.
“You need to do all the basics well, defend together and hopefully we can go on and win the game.
“I’ve played at Anfield a couple of times, I played away to Midtjylland in the Champions League which is a decent stadium. So I feel that nervousness has gone.
“I’m quite relaxed before big games so I can’t wait to get on the pitch at Ibrox and put on a good performance.”
