Glasgow Rangers defender David Bates admits struggling to play 70 minutes recently

Follow us on Google Discover

Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers are set to welcome David Bates back to the first-team fold soon.

Glasgow Rangers defender David Bates has admitted to the club’s official website that he was struggling to play 70 minutes recently for the under-23’s.

Bates has been out since the early part of the campaign, after damaging a ligament in his leg.

And the defender still has some way to go until he gets his fitness back.

Bates did play 90 minutes in a friendly match for Rangers yesterday though, and the centre-back is pleased to be getting back to near full fitness.

He said: “I was out for about ten weeks with a trained ligament on my leg. It was a bit of a nightmare, but I eventually got over it and I’ve been training now for three weeks.

“I got a game against Manchester United under-23s during the week. I played 90 minutes but I was struggling after about 70.

“Tonight was good to play against a bit more physical a team than their under-23s, so it’s been good.”

Bates could come straight back into Rangers’ first-team when he returns to full fitness, but he does face a battle for a place.

Since Graeme Murty has taken temporary charge, Danny Wilson has come back into Rangers’ starting line-up and impressed.

Rangers have won every match that Murty has taken charge of so far, since he replaced Pedro Caixinha.

Rangers are next in action at the weekend, when they take on Hamilton, and Bates may well feature in the match day squad.