Filip Helander is hoping for a a chance to restrain Robert Lewandowski on Tuesday and help book Sweden’s ticket to Qatar 2022.
But, regardless of whether the defender gets to face Poland’s super striker in his country’s World Cup play-off decider, countryman Bojan Djordjic believes the Rangers ace has the character to play a huge part for his club in the nerve-shredding run-in which could bring them a second-successive title and a first Scottish Cup in 13 years.
Helander is firmly back in the Ibrox fold after five agonising months on the injured list after knee surgery.
The Swede’s return to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s set-up also saw him secure his place back in the national squad.
Helander won his 19th cap from the bench five days ago as Sweden defeated Czech Republic last week to clinch their win-or-bust clash with the Poles.
The 28-year-old could return to the starting line-up for a 20th international outing to face Lewandowski with Joakim Nilsson, who was chosen ahead of him for the extra-time win in Stockholm by boss Janne Andersson, an injury doubt.
Helander said: “Everyone wants to play. I feel great physically and in good shape.”
No matter how it goes tonight in Katowice's Slaski Stadium, the stopper will be back at the Rangers Training Centre on Thursday to begin the build-up for Sunday’s Premiership showdown against Celtic.
Helander missed the 3-0 defeat in Glasgow’s East End at the start of last month, but played a crucial role when his team sank their rivals in the first Old Firm game of the season.
The centre-back kept a clean sheet and also headed the only goal of the game to give Steven Gerrard’s side a 1-0 win in Govan.
Helander is not in the Europa League squad, but, with potentially nine domestic games remaining in the campaign, he could still have a big role.
Djordjic says the Swede is often underappreciated, but the ex-Ibrox winger insists he’s always kept quietly knocking down barriers and defying doubters.
Djordjic, who had a spell at Ibrox under the management of Alex McLeish in 2005, believes Helander will use typical strength of his character to help Rangers to more club success and expects him to be in Qatar if the Swedes make it through.
He said: “You need the right mentality and Swedish mentality is tough. Filip is mentally strong.
“He is under-appreciated and some of that is because he doesn’t talk.
“It’s easy for people to criticise and he only answers back his critics on the pitch.
“When things are going badly, Filip is the type who puts in an even harder shift and you have to like that mentality.
“It’s alright speaking about quality, but if you don’t have the mentality, it means less.
“If you have the head that he has, you always get through barriers and have people on your side.
“Filip has had his critics, but he has always fought and come out on the winning side.”
Djordjic now works as a pundit for Swedish TV alongside Freddie Ljungberg, Lars Lagarback and Seb Larsson covering the English Premier League, but retains a keen eye on the progress of the Light Blues having been hit by the size of the club during his short stay.
He said: “You feel the history and tradition when you go to the training ground or stadium.
“There is a difference in standard now to when I was there, but they still represent a great club.”
As well as his TV work, Djordjic also helps run an Academy in Stockholm for teenage players and uses an example of old pal Dado Prso to educate the kids.
He said: “I am trying to teach the young players. In my world, every player should be technically gifted.
“I get p****d off when kids don’t have a good first touch, but that’s just me.
“I am trying to teach them there is a different side if you are going to make the grade to the first team.
“Look at guys with less talent who make it. They train and work. Every single day.
“Young players can sometimes believe too much in their own ability and not see it also takes extreme hard work.
“My grandad once told me: The worst thing that happened to you is that God gave you talent. I thought: Why? He said young, talented players don’t put a shift in and think their talent is going to solve everything. That’s the thing.
“I am head of academy at my old boys team. I work with talented young players between 15 and 18 and I work more off the field to get their mentality right.
“It’s a big step for Under-19s to the first team and a big step to leave your country. Kids are too comfortable these days. Everything is served for them. Some think they are world beaters at 16 years of age.
“I always said that I wish the young players could have looked at Dado Prso when he was at Rangers.
“They guy trained with no knees. He didn’t have any knees left and put a shift in every single day.
“One of the best players, yet also one of the best trainers.
“Dado never once trained with the handbrake on. He was like a Croatian Braveheart.”
