Davis dismay at Naismith injury

Rangers midfielder Steven Davis said the elation of his side’s win over Aberdeen on Saturday was tempered by Steven Naismith’s injury.

The Scottish Premier League leaders were 2-1 winners at Pittodrie but could now be without Naismith for an extended period after he appeared to suffer a cruciate knee ligament injury.

“It’s a massive blow for the whole team as well as him personally. Last year he was player of the year and he has been fantastic so far this season. It puts a real dampener on the result,” he said.

“Everyone around him will support him. He did his other knee before and came back fitter and stronger than ever.”

“Over the last 18 months he has possibly been our best player so that tells you how much of a blow it is going to be to us. Hopefully he can bounce back.”

Northern Ireland international Davis also hit out at the Aberdeen fans who appeared to jeer Naismith as he was stretchered from the field.

“No fan should want to see any player get injured, whether it’s for your own team or the opposition. I was a bit saddened by that. Hopefully the prognosis won’t be as bad as we are expecting,” he said.

Davis went on to hail the win over the Dons, which gives Rangers’ 12-point cushion at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

“It’s a tough place to come so we were delighted to come away with all three points,” he said.

“Aberdeen gave us a good game and to be honest there wasn’t much in it for long periods. We have a real determination not to concede goals and if you don’t concede you always have a chance to win as we always create one or two chances.”