RANGERS midfielder Jordan Rossiter has issued a massive thank-you to former CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who is on loan at Fleetwood, was given his Liverpool debut in the League Cup against Middlesbrough in 2014 when the Irishman was in charge at Anfield.
Rossiter, a 17-year-old rookie at the time, admitted he was stunned to get the opportunity and was grateful to Rodgers who quit Parkhead in February to return to England with Leicester City.
The player opened the scoring in a 2-2 draw before a 30-shot penalty shoot-out which was eventually won by the Merseyside giants.
Rossiter, speaking to the Scottish Sun, admitted: “Brendan Rodgers played a massive part in my development.
“His man-management and coaching skills were brilliant and I fed off it.
“He believed in me which meant a lot and it stood me in good stead. I got on to the bench a few times, starting at Chelsea.
“There were a lot of injuries at the time which promoted me, but I was very young and didn’t realistically expect too much.
“I was at the academy the day before the Middlesbrough game and got the nod because they needed to make up players.
“I did the training with the first team, went home and the next thing I know we are in the pre-match meeting and I’m getting told I’m starting.
“I was a bit taken aback, to be honest. It was a nearly full house and my family were in amongst them.”
Rossiter has struggled to get game time at former Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard’s Gers and agreed a summer switch to Joey Barton’s League One outfit.
He added: “Over the summer, I knew that I was not in the plans at Rangers.
“I know the gaffer (Barton) here from his time in Glasgow and although a few other clubs were interested in signing me I know that I’ve made the right choice.
“Unfortunately, I never played in an Old Firm game, but spent one on the bench and it was a totally different atmosphere to anything I’d experienced before.”
