James Penrice outlined the importance of rallying his new Rangers team-mates after his scoring debut against St Mirren helped Derek McInnes to his first win as Gers boss.
The 27-year-old former Partick Thistle, Livingston and Hearts left-back signed on loan from Greek side AEK Athens with an option to buy, as cover for injured Tuur Rommens, and was thrown straight into the Premier Sports Cup last-16 tie against the Buddies at Ibrox on Sunday.
Penrice was no shrinking violet as he organised, encouraged and cajoled the Light Blues players, setting up the third goal for Djeidi Gassama and scoring the fourth in what was a badly-needed win for McInnes after going his first four games without a victory.
“I think it’s got to be done,” Penrice said. “I played in this league before and you can’t kind of be shy in these games. And if I can come in and just help one per cent, two per cent, then it’s helping the boys.
“Somebody might tell me to shut up, but I’ll try and help everyone on the pitch as long as I can. And I think that’s all we need; we need to be pushing in the right direction, and I thought the boys were brilliant.”
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Penrice was upset when a proposed move to Rangers in January came to nothing but was delighted to eventually return to the club where he had a brief spell in the youth set-up. He said: “January was close; it didn’t happen for a number of reasons, and I ended up staying and winning the league with AEK.
“When I had heard there was a sniff this window, it was all I wanted. I pushed like mad, and then I’ve got to say thank you to AEK as well because they made it happen. I told them I really wanted to come to the club, and they facilitated it, so I must thank them as well, but I must say a thank you to the club for showing the faith in trying to get me here.
“You kind of get doubts (about it happening). I was quite upset it didn’t happen in January; I’m not shying away from that. But as soon as I found out in the summer there was a chance, as I said, I pushed like mad and it was only thing I wanted.”
Number one left-back Rommens is out for up to eight weeks with a groin strain but Penrice insists he not at Ibrox just to mark time until the Belgian defender is fit again. “He’s obviously injured and I’m coming in to play,” Penrice said.
“I want to keep performing and that’s kind of where I am. I want make the jersey my own and hopefully I can do that.”
