JOE ARIBO always had the talent to make an impact at Ibrox. Now he is fit to wear the Rangers shirt after hitting the gym to ensure he could raise the bar.
The midfielder has become increasingly influential for Steven Gerrard's side this term and two goals in two games against Royal Antwerp and Dundee United have been crucial to Rangers' aspirations at home and abroad.
Gym sessions with Glen Kamara and Connor Goldson have helped Aribo bulk up to allow him to handle the rough and tumble nature of Scottish football.
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In Ianis Hagi and Steven Davis, both sleight and skilful yet hugely significant, he has the perfect role models.
Aribo said: "I knew when I first came in that I wasn’t the biggest but I have been trying to put on weight and fill out a shirt for a long time.
"I knew I had to be in the gym and I tried to do as much gym work as possible.
"I am feeling a lot stronger now when I’m going around the pitch. I have got a fast metabolism so I struggle with that.
"We know how physical Scottish football is so I knew that if I was getting stronger then I would be able to match that physicality. That is what I had to do.
"I would say I do most of my gym work with Glen and Connor, but when you see Ianis’ work rate, Davo’s work rate, you see how much gym they do and that motivates you and you know that every single day you can improve. The one per cents are so important.
"I have always wanted to score goals, especially scoring goals from midfield. Goals are big but mainly I just want to perform well. Goals do that as well and adding goals to your game is such a big thing.
🎙️ PRESS CONFERENCE: Joe Aribo spoke to the media today ahead of Thursday's #UEL match at Ibrox. pic.twitter.com/PDzN8gdMJA
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) February 24, 2021
"It effects the game, goals win games. To score goals is massive for me.
"I think that is for you to judge [if you are seeing my full potential]. Hopefully you are seeing that finished article but I know there are still levels for me to get to and improve.
"I can always improve every single day so I will keep pushing the hardest I can to be the best that I can be and show that."
When Gerrard addressed Aribo's importance to Rangers after the United win, he reckoned that fans were now seeing the best of him after an injury disrupted first half of the campaign.
🎙️ PRESS CONFERENCE: Steven Gerrard spoke to the media today ahead of Thursday's #UEL match at Ibrox. pic.twitter.com/0xHnEyKSql
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) February 24, 2021
Those weeks out of action were difficult for the 24-year-old but he is older, wiser and certainly better having come through the experience and put in the effort to get back to full speed.
Aribo said: “When I got injured I got ahead of myself, I think. As the gaffer said, it was my first long- term injury and I thought I could just get back and get up to speed straight away.
“I knew I had to bide my time in the end but I wanted to get back playing and get back to my best straight away.
“It’s more of a journey, though. It’s not just a case of getting to the finishing line straight away.
“I spoke to my family a lot more around that time and they pushed me and helped me. Just having them with me helped with the injury.
“I now know that if I ever get another injury that I’m going to have to take my time.
“I remember when I first got injured I spoke to the gaffer and he said to me that he’s been there himself and understood.
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“He just said ‘don’t worry about it,’ and that helped as it was playing on my mind a lot. So even that, being told to take my time, helped me.”
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