REFLECTING on the emotional and physical journey of his lengthy injury absence, Danilo insists he’s raring to pull on the Rangers jersey once again and get back on the pitch.
The 25-year-old’s debut campaign for the Gers was cruelly cut short in December last season after sustaining a knee injury just weeks before Philippe Clement’s side lifted the Viaplay Cup at the national stadium.
It’s been a long and arduous road to recovery for the Brazilian since, but, after a seven-month absence, the forward says he’s relishing the prospect of his first full pre-season with the club.
Speaking to RangersTV after his return to training, he commented: “It’s been great. Being back with the team, all the hard work that I’ve put in outside and in the gym has really paid off. It’s amazing being with the boys.
“It’s been crazy if I look back. There were things that I wish I could do, but at that moment I couldn’t do it. It was hard, but those moments make me stronger.
“Everyone was really relaxed with me and really patient, so they have all given me really good confidence.
“There’s still a lot to work on and I’m not 100 per cent done yet, but I’m working hard to achieve that.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to do a full pre-season last year because I arrived later. It’s good to start pre-season with the boys and get that connection.
“It’s been a long journey for me, and the most important thing is that I take care of my knee and make sure it’s 100 per cent for the start of the season.”
In the meantime, Danilo believes a significant milestone in his personal life played a crucial role in keeping his spirits high as he became a father.
The 25-year-old was also joined at the club by a fellow Brazilian as full-back Jefte arrived in Glasgow, with Danilo keen to assume a mentorship role and help his young compatriot assimilate to life at Rangers.
He added: “My daughter was almost born when I done my knee and I didn’t want to be in that situation when she was just coming into the world.
“But when she was born I was already really good to carry her and walk. She was giving me so much strength to get me through those hard moments, and she has been the light in the darkness for me.
“It was a really sweet message that they were giving to us, and now they are so happy that I’m back on the pitch. The boys are really sweet and they are part of my family.
“Jefte is from the different side of Sao Paulo, and it’s funny because he can speak a little bit differently to me.
“I need to help him quite a lot, and I want to be responsible on my part to help him feel as comfortable as possible.
“He’s going to get better at English later on, but he’s a really nice boy and will contribute a lot.”