THE STURM CHASER

Chukwuani drawing on last season's Austrian title win to see Gers to glory

- FRASER WILSON

TOCHI CHUKWUANI has been in this movie before.

Just a year ago to be precise.

A thriller with no letup as it raced to its finale - with a lead role for the Dane in what proved the happiest of endings.

Chukwuani was a key man for Sturm Graz as they lifted Austria's Bundesliga title last May. And the parallels with what the Danish midfielder is experiencing at Rangers are impossible to ignore.

Perhaps more importantly, the lessons from the experience are there too.

Graz - with ex-Motherwell star Max Johnston also among their number - were out in front for most of the four-way fight for last year's Austrian championship that saw Chukwuani net in a massive 4-2 win over Red Bull Salzburg with three games to go.

But a defeat away to Rapid Vienna on the penultimate match day meant the destination of the title went down to the wire - and a home clash with Wolfsberg where a victory for the visitors would have been enough to pip Die Schwoazn to the crown by a point. A nerve-wracked 1-1 draw saw Sturm prevail.

And as he draws on the experience amid an equally thrilling race at Gers, the 22-year-old has no doubt what was key to coming out on top - a cast list of quality performers and experienced stars.

As one of four January signings that have hit the ground running at Ibrox - Andreas Skov Olsen, Tuur Rommens and Ryan Naderi are the others - Chukwuani reckons Rangers are now equipped to pen their own fairytale title.