Emerson Hyndman made his first appearance in an Old Firm game as Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers drew 1-1 with Celtic.
Rangers’ Emerson Hyndman in action with Celtic’s Scott Brown
Rangers loanee Emerson Hyndman has told the club’s official website that his teammates were advising him not to be overawed ahead of his first experience of the Old Firm derby.
Hyndman has been one of the Gers’ brightest players since his arrival on loan from Bournemouth in January, so he would have undoubtedly been one of the players that Graeme Murty would have been looking to to make an impact at Parkhead.
And the 20-year-old explained that his teammates helped prepare him for the clash with Celtic by informing him what to expect in the cauldron that develops when the Old Firm meet.
“It was really exciting for me with it being my first one,” he told the club’s official website.
Rangers’ Emerson Hyndman, Harry Forrester and Lee Hodson celebrate their first goal
“The boys were telling me about it before the game and the atmosphere was ridiculous, and to not be intimidated and to go and do my thing. It was a great experience, and all the boys put in a real shift.”
While the youngster’s performance perhaps drifted as the game went on, it must be said that he appeared to handle the atmosphere very well, especially when he got onto the ball.
Rangers’ Clint Hill celebrates scoring their first goal
He arguably looked to be Rangers’ most confident player in the middle of the park when it came to keeping the ball early on, and he was not afraid to try and take on his Celtic counterparts.
And while the stature of the contest did not seem to phase him this time around, it is surely safe to say that the experience of playing in such a game will prove incredibly beneficial in the remaining meetings between the two this season.
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