Rangers striker Joe Garner has discussed the expectation levels at Ibrox.
Rangers striker Joe Garner has told the Glasgow Evening Times that the expectation at Ibrox is far from unfair after an up-and-down start to life with the club.
Garner, 28, was Rangers’ big-money summer signing after manager Mark Warburton forked out £1.5m (STV) to sign the centre forward from English Championship side Preston North End.
With 57 goals in 151 games for North End, Garner – a boyhood Preston fan – was a hero at Deepdale, but he’s found life at Rangers a little bit tougher so far.
Rangers’ Joe Garner celebrates
Whilst Garner scored against Celtic in the 5-1 Old Firm defeat, he then went five games without a goal and spent some time on the bench as he adjusted to life in Glasgow.
Now though, Garner has scored twice in his last two games, and the Blackburn-born striker is starting to look like the player that Preston fans adored.
Joe Garner during his time at Preston North End
Ahead of this weekend’s trip to face Ross County, Garner has spoken to the Glasgow Evening Times about his time with the club, and particularly the expectation levels at Ibrox.
Garner stated that he doesn’t think that the expectation levels from Rangers fans is unfair at all, as Rangers are a ‘massive club with a massive fanbase’, whilst comparing the club to Nottingham Forest, where Garner scored ten goals in 55 games.
Garner added that people will soon find out whether he can handle that expectation – something quite different to what he experienced at Preston – and joked that it could take him a couple of years to get used to the pressure.
Joe Garner celebrates scoring for Preston
“I don’t think it’s unfair, it is what it is,” said Garner. “It doesn’t just happen at Rangers, it happens everywhere all over the world. It’s a massive club with a massive fanbase, but you just have to get on with it. I played in front of 30-odd thousand at Nottingham Forest, they are a big club as well.”
“This is a results-driven business, fans want to see results and they want to see goals. They pay their money and they are entitled to see what they want to watch. I just get on with it, work hard, and what will be will be. We’ll find out soon enough if I can handle it, it might take a couple of years!” he added.
What have you made of Garner’s start to life at Rangers?
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