Former Rangers captain Gavin Rae has lauded former Ibrox team-mate, Charlie Adam, as he prepares to skipper boyhood club Dundee in their return to the Scottish Premiership – and admitted the ex-Liverpool and Scotland star was a “machine” when they played together at Ibrox.
Adam was just breaking into the side at Rangers when Rae was at the club and the controversial former Gers captain’s comments will probably take a few by surprise.
Rae recalled a young Adam trying to regularly score from halfway in games – something he’s done a few times over his career – but it was his fitness that left Rae most impressed as Adam broke into the first team at Rangers.
“Charlie was breaking through at Rangers when I was at the club and we played lots of games together,” Rae told the Daily Record.
“I always remember him trying to score from the halfway line almost every game he played. That was standard Charlie.
“To be fair he’s proved it a few times that he’s got it in his locker.
“He had unbelievable ability when he was coming through at Ibrox.
“But the thing that really sticks out in my mind was that he was a very, very fit and athletic boy. He was a machine.”
With Dundee making their return to the Premiership this season, Adam will captain the Dens Park side as they look to consolidate their place in the top-flight and avoid being dragged into a relegation fight.
The former Rangers midfielder was key in their promotion push and, despite his advancing years, is clearly more than capable of holding his own in the Premiership.
While at Rangers there was always a perception of Adam amongst fans that he wasn’t the fittest player so it is interesting to hear Rae call him a ‘machine’.
As he enters his late 30s, there’s no sign yet of Adam hanging up his boots so there must be something to Rae’s praise.
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