Ryan Naderi: Rangers striker on playing through injury to score at Celtic

• Ryan Naderi struck in the 33rd minute as Rangers won 1-0 at Celtic Park.
• The £5m January signing from Hansa Rostock played the derby on a swollen ankle after Mika Baur’s tackle at Ibrox.
• Naderi’s importance has grown since Youssef Chermiti’s ACL injury left Rangers short of forward options.

Ryan Naderi at Celtic Park: how it happened

Ryan Naderi’s 33rd-minute finish settled the Old Firm derby, giving Rangers a 1-0 win at Celtic Park.

The Ryan Naderi Rangers goal came from a striker who had spent the week barely able to train without pain.

The trouble began with a tackle from Mika Baur during the win at Ibrox one week previous, which left his ankle badly swollen.

According to Gers boss Derek McInnes, the ankle was simply “a mess” in the build-up to the derby, yet Naderi trained through the discomfort and started regardless.

Naderi never seriously considered missing out, even with the international break only days away.

As detailed in our full report on Naderi’s derby winner, he explained: “My ankle is still a bit thick so I was carrying it all week before the game.

“But I knew we had a break afterwards so now I can recover.

Parkhead held only Celtic supporters that afternoon, and Naderi felt the silence the moment his shot crossed the line.

Read Rangers detailed his thoughts on how “the ball was just in front of me and the goal was pretty empty. I just HAD to score it,” adding that the win was “more about the team effort from us.”

The subdued home atmosphere was also noted by the Daily Record’s coverage of the Parkhead clash.

The expert angle: £5m gamble pays off amidst forward shortage

Rangers paid £5 million for Naderi in January, taking him from Hansa Rostock in Germany’s third tier.

It looked a gamble given the level he was leaving. His compatriot Danny Rohl (McInnes’ predecessor) was confident the faith would be returned.

Nine months on, the Ryan Naderi Rangers goal at Celtic Park stands as the clearest possible return on that outlay.

More than that, his overall performance was outstanding. Even better than his showing at Ibrox in the 3-0 League Cup win.

Youssef Chermiti’s ACL injury, suffered early this season, removed Rangers’ first-choice forward for months rather than weeks.

Lawrence Shankland’s own injury has been another issue.

Kevin Kelsy has come in and is beginning to settle, but Naderi has been the one certainty Derek McInnes could plan around since, and Sunday’s winner underlined exactly why.

Naderi is not getting carried away by his current form. He credited team spirit over individual momentum, stating that it is “always about sticking with yourself and having trust in yourself.”

He also praised teammates who see less pitch time, saying they “deserve big praise as well” for keeping the squad united.

It is a level-headed take from a player who is increasingly becoming a reliable operator for Rangers. It seems like McInnes is getting the best of him and long may it continue.

What happens next for Naderi

Naderi will use the scheduled international break to let his ankle settle rather than risk further damage. He indicated to Read Rangers that recovery, not rest during the derby itself, was always the plan once the fixture list allowed it.

His international future stays unresolved elsewhere. Separate reporting has covered his international red tape delays, which have kept a senior debut on hold even as his club form has surged.

For Rangers, the more pressing issue is depth up front. With Chermiti still out and Naderi now managing a knock of his own, McInnes has little margin for another injury before his top scorer returns to full fitness.

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