‘Bitten their hand off’ – Rangers star reveals what has changed since last Old Firm win
Rangers midfielder Greg Docherty has admitted he wants to emulate the “buzz” from last time the Gers beat Celtic at Hampden in a Scottish Cup semi-final – after being at Hampden Park as a fan last time around.
Docherty was at Hampden as a fan in 2016 when Mark Warburton’s side triumphed on penalties over their bitter rivals – the last time the Gers recorded a win over their city rivals.
The midfielder has since completed a switch to his boyhood heroes and could line-up in next weekend’s Hampden showdown as the Gers look to bring their seven-year wait for a major trophy to an end.
The 21-year-old admitted he would have “bitten their hand off” if he had been told he’d playing for the Gers in an Old Firm derby in the future.
“I wasn’t really in with the fans, I was invited with my dad to hospitality,” Docherty said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“I had to be respectful to Hamilton but, of course, I was very happy inside.
“So that’s something that’s on my mind as well, wanting to emulate that buzz.
“If someone said to me then that I could be playing for Rangers in the next one against Celtic then I’d have bitten their hand off.”
Docherty has been a mainstay in the starting XI in recent weeks but was hooked early in the second-half of Saturday’s 4-0 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.
The midfielder has made 12 appearances for the Gers following his January move from Hamilton.
The win over Dundee puts the Gers back into second in the Scottish Premiership on goal difference after Aberdeen slipped to a 2-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.
Football Insider verdict:
Docherty might find himself on the bench on Sunday at Hampden after his performance against Dundee. The 21-year-old has been off the boil in recent weeks and was replaced by Andy Halliday in the 4-0 win over Neil McCann’s side. The Scotland Under-21 has been one of the stand-out young players in Scotland in recent seasons and although he admits he’d have bitten your hand off to feature in an Old Firm, his form for Hamilton always meant it was likely he’d win a move to Ibrox or Celtic Park. The midfielder will be desperate t prove himself at the national stadium on Sunday and help the Gers to the final.
In other Rangers news, Celtic are in the running to sign this former Light Blues player in a shock summer transfer.
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