Fashion Sakala capped his first Premiership start of the season with a late goal – then immediately set his sights on a place in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s starting line-up to face Liverpool in the Champions League.
The Zambian has endured a frustrating start to the campaign with his minutes severely limited after being disregarded for a central striker role.
The versatile forward marked his return in Saturday’s 4-0 victory over St Mirren with a goal in the 91st minute and an assist, while offering the possibility of another attacking option on the right-hand side in what has become a problem area for the Ibrox club.
Sakala’s confident second half display could be enough to earn him a starting berth for the return fixture with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds on Wednesday.
Van Bronckhorst confessed afterwards he had no intention of offloading the 25-year-old in the summer despite plenty of speculation, and Sakala reckons an opportunity to face Liverpool would make up for his lack of game time.
He said: “I’m looking hopefully to start, but I always respect the decision of the boss. If I start, I will appreicate it. But if I’m on the bench, I will appreciate it as well.
“I always look forward to getting my chances. If he gives me the chance to start against Liverpool, I’ll be ready. I hope to start, but it’s his decision and I respect that.
“I feel good to be back in the line-up. This was the first game I have started this season. I have a very good relationship with the coach. He’s always pushing me to work extra hard in training, which I believe I do.
“I really appreciate it for him giving me the chance to prove myself again. I appreciate his trust in me. It has been a very difficult time for me over the past few months, but the staff and the players have been there for me.
“The relationship I have with the manager and the technical staff is amazin and they have been supporting me throughout. I can’t complain to be fair. They have been there for me and obviously all players go through such a moment.
“I feel I am getting there. I’m not yet but I am on the way to a 100 per cent performance.”
Sakala revealed a half time pep-talk from Van Bronckhorst inspired him to an impressive performance and admits he would be happy to be deployed out wide on a regular basis going forward.
He added: “As players, the only thing you can do is perform well on the pitch.
“In the first half, I wasn’t 100 per cent. I was trying to get into the rhythm of the game. In the second half, after a few conversations with the boss, I think I got it right. Everything went well in the second half.
“The manager helped me by telling me where I need to be with my position. I needed to stay wide and use my strength, which I did in the second half.
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“I appreciate playing on the right because I can see there is a big competition up front there. Alfredo Morelos and Antonio. I really appreciate playing on the right because I feel that is the position I can play and I appreicate the boss for trusting me to play there.
“The relationship I have with the strikers, I don’t compete with them to play as a striker anymore. I have been trying hard to work on the wings, left and right, and that is something I respect.
“It is difficult but I have to respect the decision of the boss and I also appreciate the support of the strikers that we have because they are my good friends. They always support me and encourage me.”
[Glasgow World]
