NOTHING'S GOING TO SET ME BACK

Fighter Fernandez has come through school of hard knocks

- BY SCOTT McDERMOTT

EMMANUEL FERNANDEZ has had a few bumps in the road on his journey from Sheppey United in the Isthmian South East Division to Rangers in the Europa League.

But the 24-year-old defender has always managed to get back on track and shown a resilience and ability to deal with adversity.

Those are useful traits to have at Ibrox right now with fans questioning the £2.5million paid to Peterborough United for his services in the summer.

Barely involved under Russell Martin and when Danny Rohl took charge, the Londoner is back in the fold because of injuries to centre-backs John Souttar and Derek Cornelius.

It has been a rather rocky reintroduction to the first team, with a league victory over Livingston followed by disappointing home draws in Europe against Braga and Falkirk in the Premiership.

Fernandez knows the pressure to perform is intense, but is determined to seize his chance.

Ahead of tonight's topflight meeting with Dundee United at Tannadice, Fernandez said: “Playing in the Europa League was amazing for me because only a few years ago I had just started in college.

“Then I signed for Gillingham, had two years there, then didn't have a club for a bit during Covid.

“I went into a non-league club before ending up at Peterborough where I had four years. So I couldn't be more grateful to now be playing in the Europa League. There’s nothing more I can ask for.