Source: Team_Talk
Thomson relishing return to training
Rangers midfielder Thomson hopes to rejoin full training with his team-mates immediately after the summer break as he continues to fight back from a cruciate ligament injury.
The former Hibernian midfielder suffered the injury for the second time in his career during a 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock in November.
Thomson aims to use the remaining weeks of the season to build up his fitness so he is ready to hit the ground running when Walter Smith's men begin preparations for next term.
"If you asked 100 footballers if they were excited about pre-season, I'm pretty sure 99 would say they are not," Thomson said.
"For the first time in my career, I am. It's a hard slog in pre-season but I'm certainly looking forward to it and to get boots back on and training kit and get back involved with the boys will be great.
"I don't see any reason why, come the first game in August, I'm not firing on all cylinders."
Thomson ruptured a cruciate ligament in May 2004 while playing for Hibs as a teenager.
But he still feared his career was coming to an end in the weeks after his knee buckled under the weight of Kilmarnock striker David Fernandez during their accidental collision at Rugby Park.
"I had a few problems to start with," said Thomson, who was today reminding Rangers fans of Friday's season ticket renewal deadline.
"It was tough and I thought it was just not going to be. The complications that I had, to say the least, were not great.
"I had to show character and mental strength and I have kept my head down and come out the other side.
"It was quite a bumpy ride for the first eight weeks or so but since I have overcome that and had the operation, it has gone smoothly.
"I'm getting a wee break next week and hopefully when I come back I'll be firing on all cylinders.
"I hope to be back pre-season, whenever the boys are back in, and I'm pretty confident I'll be ready to go.
"That's been my goal, I've said that since straight after the injury.
"Pre-season was spoken about when I realised the extent of the injury, the six-month barrier was the time and that took me to the summer.
"So there is no reason why I can't be there. If you ask any footballer, it's very important to start pre-season and feel part of the squad, especially if you have been out for so long.
"If I'm there or thereabouts, I'll certainly be involved."
Thomson was among Smith's most consistent performers in the early stages of the season and quickly formed a productive midfield partnership with Pedro Mendes when the Portuguese player arrived from Portsmouth in August.
The 24-year-old also won his first Scotland cap in the goalless friendly with Northern Ireland in August.
His influence in the Rangers midfield was so strong that he has been touted as the long-term successor as captain to Barry Ferguson, who lost the armband to Davie Weir last month following his behaviour on Scotland duty.
Thomson admits he was happy with his form after a "patchy" start to his Rangers career following a £2million move from Hibs in January 2007.
But he believes there is room for more improvement when he fully recovers.
"It was great to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I was starting to fly," Thomson said.
"I was happy with my game three to four weeks before my injury and it was good to win the appreciation of the supporters and the press, but I still felt there was more to come."
