PARKLIFE TO BLUE OASIS

Fernandez's road to Ibrox is paved with hard graft

- By Andy Newport

MANNY FERNANDEZ had to resort to running around his local park as he fought to keep his career ambitions on track during Covid.

Now the new Rangers recruit reckons all that hard work has paid off as he prepares to get his first look at his Ibrox field of dreams.

The giant 6ft 5ins centre-back is the latest addition to Russell Martin's new-look Light Blues after joining from Peterborough on a four-year deal.

The glamorous surrounds of the club's plush Auchenhowie training base are a far cry from the circumstances the 23-year-old found himself in during the dark days of the pandemic.

Released by English League 1 outfit Gillingham, Fernandez found himself without a club and training on his own for a spell before dropping down to the eighth tier of the football pyramid down south to sign for Isthmian League minnows Ramsgate.

But from there he was picked up by Posh boss Darren Ferguson — son of the legendary Sir Alex — and gradually established himself as one of the EFL's brightest talents.

With 60 appearances in League One in the last two seasons now under his belt, he knows he'll be making a massive step up as he joins a Rangers squad hoping to join the European elite in the Champions League.

But the towering centre-back can't wait to test himself at the highest level.