Jermain Defoe of Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers turns 37 this year.
Writing in The Glasgow Evening Times, Lee McCulloch has played down the significance of new Rangers striker Jermain Defoe’s age.
Rangers snapped up the Bournemouth hitman on a 18-month loan this past weekend.
Defoe, who has 162 Premier League goals under his belt, turned 36 in October.
Much has been made over whether the striker can bring his famed talismanic ability to the Scottish Premiership, considering his age, but McCulloch is adamant that it’s ‘completely irrelevant’.
“I played against Jermaine when I was with Wigan and he was with Spurs. Fortunately, I didn’t play in defence against him. Thanks goodness,” he told The Glasgow Evening Times.
“He is razor sharp, a tremendous natural finisher. His age, 36, is completely irrelevant because of the shape he is in. Given chances he will score goals. And Rangers have been creating chances this season.”
McCulloch is spot-on to be fair. Kenny Miller, who is 39, has seven Premiership goals in his last nine games for Dundee, and if that isn’t evidence that Defoe can rip up Scotland’s top flight then nothing is.
The legendary striker could make his Rangers debut on January 18 when Steven Gerrard’s side visit Cowdenbeath in a Scottish Cup fourth-round encounter.
Considering they play in the fourth tier of Scottish football, it’s a unique chance for Defoe to get his Gers career off to an absolute flier.
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