Rangers defender Nikola Katic has revealed he is looking to model his game on club legend Richard Gough, praising the 56-year-old for supporting him while out of the first-team in recent months, as reported by The Scottish Sun.
Katic showed enormous potential at the start of this season but was eventually replaced in defence by loan signing Joe Worrall, losing confidence and form.
He’s had to remain patient for first-team opportunities since then and on Saturday played his first match since the start of February and only his fourth in 2019 so far.
It’s been a difficult time for the Croatian prospect but he is determined to try and emulate legendary figures at the club who have led the way in the past.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, the 22-year-old said:
I have been delighted to meet Richard Gough. We met for the first time when I was in a hotel and he’s become a really good friend who always gives me great advice and tells great stories.
He played when I wasn’t born, but I asked around about him and then Googled him.
It’s obvious he was a big leader like the gaffer was. He was our captain for ten years and he’s definitely the player I would like to become in the future.
He was a really good support to me when I was out of the team, he always wants to help me. I will keep his advice to myself, but I’m delighted to talk about football with him.
It’s always seemed apparent since his debut that Katic ‘gets it’ in terms of what it means to be a Rangers player and most fans are hoping he can become the kind of consistent centre-back he’s shown glimpses of being so far in his short Ibrox career.
That he is seeking out and absorbing advice from titans like Richard Gough is seriously good news for his development.
Much of what it takes to shine for the Gers is a psychological and mentality thing, not just pure playing ability, and it seems the summer signing recognises that.