A spa day for Tav..sleeping tablets for the others and an early rise for Wives and girlfriends. This is how Rangers will stay wide awake for Celtic trip

Ex-Ibrox midfielder knows how tricky it is to get back to normal after huge European exertions

- SCOTT ARFIELD

LET'S just spare a thought for all the Rangers wives and girlfriends who were forced to do the school run yesterday.

Because believe me, there will have been a few drowsy dads struggling to get their heads off the pillow as the alarm went after Ibrox's latest Thursday thriller.

Having played in a few of these myself, I can tell you getting to sleep afterwards was always one of the biggest challenges.

As soon as you were back in the changing room after the final whistle, the sport science guys were on you making sure to get food and liquids down your throat to aid your recovery.

But these drinks, things like Lucozade and Red Bull, are full of sugar. Combined with all the adrenalin still pumping round your system, you would often find yourself getting home, climbing into bed and then staring at the ceiling until 4am.

Some guys I played with would resort to popping sleeping tablets to get some rest.

But I was always wary. These tablets can become addictive and leave you reliant upon them any time you want to nod off so it wasn't for me.

I tried them for a short spell but while they'd knock you out, it wasn't a proper kip - more of a fake sleep.

So you'd still end up feeling groggy in the morning.

Regardless, you can bet there will have been a few tired lads cutting about the training ground yesterday.

They will be well looked after at Auchenhowie, though, with everything on hand they need to get themselves going again for tomorrow's huge Old Firm game.

Knowing James Tavernier, he will have spent the whole day there going through his full recovery session.

It was almost like a spa day for Tav! He'd be in the jacuzzi and the ice bath before getting a rub down.