Martyn Waghorn opens up on ‘Groundhog Day’ struggles during time at Rangers
Martyn Waghorn admits his time at Rangers felt like “Groundhog Day” as he opened up his mental health struggles while at Ibrox.
The 33-year-old spent two years with Rangers between July 2015 and August 2017, which included a season in the Scottish Championship.
Waghorn, who scored 44 goals in 78 games in all competitions, has revealed just how difficult he found things while in Glasgow.
“I felt like every day was Groundhog Day. I felt like, ‘I can’t get out of this. This circle of intensity, this ball of fire’,” he told Rangers Review.
“I wasn’t scoring or playing well, I didn’t have the greatest second season. I struggled with depression. Seeing how relentless it is week in, week out, that’s why I really struggled.
“I wish I had another way or another source to manage it and things might have been different. It was a really difficult period for Rangers and myself.”
Enjoying his football
Waghorn deserves a lot of praise for speaking openly about his mental health struggles, which is now far less of a taboo subject than it perhaps was six years ago around the time of his Ibrox exit.
The striker could not replicate his 20-goal form from the season before upon the Gers’ promotion to the Scottish Premiership, netting only eight times in 32 outings.
That included a notable run of no league goals between the opening day until midway through December.
Waghorn has since spent time with Ipswich Town, Derby County Huddersfield Town, Coventry City and now Derby County, scoring five goals in five League One appearances for the latter this season.
It appears the South Shields native is enjoying his football on the field, and fingers crossed the same is also true off it with his time as a Rangers player now a distant memory.
In other Rangers news, Andy Halliday has outlined three mistakes he believes under-fire boss Michael Beale has made this season.