Rangers midfielder Steven Davis has hinted he intends to continue with his playing career after resuming his rehabilitation programme.
Davis, who turns 39 in January, has not kicked a ball for the Gers since last December after suffering a double ACL tear.
The Northern Irishman recently oversaw two matches as caretaker manager of Rangers prior to Michael Beale’s appointment.
However, amid suggestions he could retire and take a place on Philippe Clement’s coaching staff, Davis has provided an update on his future.
“The manager’s been great and it was great working alongside him for a couple of weeks and seeing his ideas,” he told Rangers TV [15 November]. “Ultimately for me, I’ve got a decision to make in terms of my knee.
“First and foremost, I’m 11 months into rehab, although the last four weeks have been a bit of a write-off because I’ve been doing the other side of the role. My knee is not where I’d like it to be and it’s imperative I get that right first and foremost.
“I’m obviously old in terms of the playing side of things, but I’m young in terms of life and obviously wherever my career takes me in the future, whether that be coaching, management or playing, it’s imperative I get my knee right first and foremost.
“I’m still at a stage that I’m not even able to play with the kids in the garden, so it’s important I get that right.”
Adding Davis to his backroom staff would of – and still does – make sense from Clement’s perspective as the midfielder provides a conduit between the players and staff.
The 38-year-old is as experienced as they come and clearly has an eye for coaching, as we saw during his two-game spell in charge recently.
But it sounds as though Davis does want to see if he is still able to play for another year or so, or at the very least ensure that he is able to live a proper life beyond football.
For that, any decision he makes has to be entirely respected. Once he has recovered from that horrific knee injury, the club should give Davis its full support, whether that means offering him a coaching position or possibly letting him leave on a free.
All this comes after Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neil said this week that Davis could make a comeback at international level, albeit in what is effectively a cheerleader capacity at this point.
It seems highly unlikely he will slot back into the Gers’ midfield at this stage, but stranger things have happened.
