Rangers’ Daly puts Cup miss behind him

Striker is aiming for another tilt at promotion.

They say it is impossible to live a life free of regret.

At 31 years old with a successful, yet eventful, career behind him, Rangers striker Jon Daly isn’t about to disagree.

Yet while he is happy to confirm the chance he passed up against Dundee United in the Scottish Cup semi preys on his mind, the Irishman insists the wisdom of leaving Tannadice last summer for the Light Blues does not.

“I have no regrets there,” said Daly, who is among four players shortlisted for the SPFL League One Player of the Year. “Back in May I felt moving on was the right thing to do and that it was the right time to do it. I still think that.

“To be honest, I don’t believe you can have regrets in football.

“As a striker, you want to score goals and I’m my own biggest critic when I play. Even in the Stenhousemuir game back in September when I scored four, I wanted five. So I’ve had games where I’ve come off having missed a few chances and been frustrated.

“I had a really good chance in the semi-final when it was just 1-0 and I didn’t take it. If I could get it again I’d have taken a touch and maybe shifted it on to my stronger right foot. But that’s football. Sometimes you’re going to miss chances.

“You have to move on and hopefully put one away in the next game.”

It won’t come in the Scottish Cup, though. Not this season anyway. Dundee United and St Johnstone meet in next month’s Final at Celtic Park. And the Tangerines will be getting Daly’s full support.

“Good luck to United in the Final,” he said, “I hope they go on to win it.”

“I’ve a lot of friends there that I’d like to see pick up a winners medal especially Sean Dillon and Morgaro Gomis. It’s a chance for them to get two winners’ medals. That’s something no other United player has managed.

“It would be fantastic for them to go down in club history. I’ll be watching the game and willing them to succeed.”

Daly, of course, is already a winner this season. Rangers will receive the League One trophy before the home game against Stranraer on Saturday. Now the Irish striker can’t wait for their Championship campaign to get underway.

“It is something we are really looking forward to,” he said. “We feel we have a strong enough squad to compete at the right end of the Championship and the manager will look to add a few boys in the summer to strengthen.

“You want to play in strong leagues and the Championship next year looks like it’s going to be a competitive division.

“We’re going to have to hit the ground running.”