World Cup stars to get Ibrox ‘boost’

Nathan Blake is overwhelmed with excitement at the prospect of two Welshman playing at Ibrox next season. 

During the nineties Blake picked up 30 caps for Wales during the era where they were just missing out on qualification for major tournaments. 

Now after back-to-back appearances in the European Championships Wales are preparing for Qatar and their first World Cup appearance in over 60 years. 

Eager for any reflected glory, The Sun got Blake to discuss the impact of Tom Lawrence and Ibrox target Rabbi Matondo moving to Scotland on the Welsh squad: 

It’s brilliant for Welsh football, two lads playing at the highest level in Scotland. I would prefer them to be playing there than in Belgium, for instance — and that’s no disrespect to Belgium. 

But I know the Scottish league and I know it’s a tough league. OK, one of the top two tends to win it, but it’s competition. 

If you’re at Rangers you still have to beat Celtic, and winning and drawing isn’t really good enough. It’s a mentality you have to buy into. 

I used to do a bit of agent work and I always told the kids if you’re going to Scotland — no disrespect to other teams — then you’ve got to play for one of the big two. Whether it’s Rangers or Celtic, it’s the pinnacle of Scottish football. 

I just think it’s brilliant for Wales these two guys could be there together now. But more importantly it’s brilliant for those players to have that sort of opportunity. 

Matondo was named in the squad for the June internationals which included the World Cup play-off victory over Ukraine but Lawrence was left out by Rob Page.