Champions League tie now comes into view for exciting forward
Rangers loanee Mikey Moore has revealed that his Tottenham team-mates’ previous experiences of Ibrox experience helped shape his decision to move north.
The 18-year-old attacker played his part in Spurs’ run to the Europa League final last season where they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the final. However, he was absent for the group-stage game against Rangers, which finished 1-1 in front of a packed and exuberant Ibrox.
When Rangers showed interest in taking Moore on a season-long loan, the teenager did not hesitate and while he signed a new long-term contract with Spurs last week and after registration issues held up his Rangers debut, he started and impressed in Saturday’s 4-2 Premier Sports Cup win over Alloa at Ibrox.
Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore made his Rangers debut against Alloa.placeholder image
Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore made his Rangers debut against Alloa. | SNS Group
“At the time I was out for a bit, so I couldn’t come up (with Spurs), but I was watching on the TV and I was fuming that I couldn’t,” said Moore of Rangers v Spurs last December. “When they came back, the lads said it was one of the best atmospheres they’ve ever played in.
“When I heard about Rangers, that came straight into my mind. I remembered all the good things the boys said, so, I can’t wait to play in that sort of atmosphere.”
Moore could also count on his Tottenham youth coach Jermain Defoe, a former Rangers striker, for advice. He said: “Obviously I spoke to Jermaine Defoe, being my coach at Tottenham and I’m really close to him now. I spoke to him about the club and he didn’t say a bad word about it.
Defoe signs Rangers’ praises
“He said ‘it’s an unbelievable place’ and he said ‘if you’ve got a chance to go there, then take it’. What a player. What a guy as well. I was a bit younger (when he was at Rangers), but I know that he was an unbelievable finisher as a striker and the fans loved him up here and he said he loved his time up here. I think he wishes he could have played here longer.”
After making his Gers debut in the Premier Sports Cup, Moore is hoping to play a part in the first leg of the Champions League play-off against Club Brugge at Ibrox on Tuesday night.
He said: “It’s a massive game, as every game is when you play for Rangers. I’m excited for it. I seen some of the games in the earlier rounds and it’s been good to qualify (for the play-off). So it’s a massive opportunity for me and all the boys. I can’t wait to go.
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“I’ve had some good experiences and I’m ready to go and show more, really. I want to make more of an impact on a European stage, so I’m ready to play. I want to just become a better player really, so I think there’s massive opportunities at this club.
“I just want to play as many games as possible, score as many goals and excite as many people as I can. I want to play in the biggest competitions and I want to be one of the best players in the world, hopefully. I’ve signed a new contract at Spurs but at the minute I’m focused on playing here. I’m just buzzing to play in some massive games at this football club.”