Michael Beale insists Steven Davis is desperate to return to action for Rangers and has no intention of hanging up his boots.
But the manager admits a call will be made once the rehab is complete following the Northern Irishman’s knee injury. Davis saw his season ended in December after a freak training ground incident resulted in an ACL rupture. At 38, it was assume dby many that Davis would call time on a storied career that saw him become the most capped British outfield player of all time.
Coaching is no doubt part of Davis’ future and it may be the case that he transitions from Ibrox pitch to dugout over the next few months. But Beale wants to give the midfielder every chance of keeping his career going as long as possible, as he deserves a fitting send off rather than slipping into the background. “He is focused right now on not ending his career and getting back to playing,” Beale said. “When I first came back I thought Davis had more time in him and five subs gives you a lot of options now as a coach.
“We played against Leverkusen and he came on and looked really strong in that game. Then we played Hibs in my first game and he came on for the last half hour and was outstanding.
“Then within the week he got the knee injury. If I go off that snapshot, he will be eight or ten months older – he won’t know, he might go through the rehab and maybe it won’t feel right.
“We’ll get him ready, we’ll get him back to play and then the options are open. But you can’t rush into coaching because it has to be something you want to do. He’ll be in and around the first team as a normal player in terms of his rehab and then there will be a decision.
“At this moment in time Steven has a real burning desire to play and we want to help him get back to that. He’s a Hall of Fame player here and it’s the wrong way for him to end in a training ground accident. It’s important Steven’s ambition is to get back playing and for me as a coach to help him have that option.”
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