JOSH Gentles admits it was a strange experience to be sidelined through injury in the second half of last season, but the 18-year-old forward is back fit and raring to go this pre-season.
After joining Alloa Athletic on a co-operation loan in January, the teenager made an immediate impact in both the goals and assists columns.
However, his campaign was curtailed less than a month later when he sustained an injury in a victory over Queen of the South in Dumfries.
Having begun the season with the first-team at Ibrox where he featured in pre-season, the disappointment at his campaign being cut short was undeniable.
Back involved following the side’s return to pre-season training last month, Gentles told the official Rangers website: “It was tough at the back end of last season because I was starting to do really well, playing consistently compared to the first six months of the season, then it was a big hit at a bad time.
"I had two goals and two assists in four games. I was quite happy in my first few games back because I felt I was getting fitter as I hadn’t played much at Raith.
“The timing wasn’t great, but sometimes these things happen that are outwith your control.
“It was one of those where I thought it was just a knock, but then I found out I needed a scan and it just got worse and worse
“The first few days are tough when you start going for scans and consultations, but once it settles it’s okay.
“There were a few stages where I went from crutches into a boot, and there were little milestones which got me through it.
“It wasn’t great, but I actually thought it would be worse after the start.”
Since scoring his first Under-19s goal as a fresh-faced 16-year-old all the way back in October 2023, Gentles’ trajectory has been linear.
For him, the injury he sustained last campaign was the first of a serious nature in his young career.
He continued: “There was a period where I went away with Wales and played a lot of games, and there was around a month with Alloa where I played really well, but over the course of the season I probably played a quarter of the games that I played in the previous season.
“It was tough because it’s been the year in the Academy where I’ve played the fewest games in my career as I never really had an injury before.
“It was a big change, but hopefully I can play a lot this year like the seasons before.”
Gentles has been involved with Derek McInnes’ first-team this pre-season as they begin their preparations for the new campaign.
The forward says he has relished being back out on the pitch and is targeting a strong campaign to make up for lost time last season.
He added: “I was on the pitch earlier than I was supposed to, and that was down to doing everything at 100 per cent.
“I’m probably not anywhere near fully back, but I feel I’m getting stronger day-by-day, my foot is getting better, and it’s going to take a little bit of time, perhaps a few weeks, to get back to 100 per cent.
“We’ll see what happens with the first-team side of things. I played for the Under-19s at the weekend and I’m just trying to get minutes back in and build up to playing 90 minutes.”
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