Matt Fagerson backs brother Zander to bounce back from Lions 'blow'

08-07-2025

Matt Fagerson has backed his big brother Zander to recover from the "big blow" of being ruled out of this summer's British and Irish Lions tour through injury.The 29-year-old prop was named in Andy Farrell's squad in May while recovering from a calf injury sustained in April, but he had to withdraw last month after he reinjured it.Fagerson was attempting to force his way into a first Test game after touring in 2021 but failing to appear in any Test series match against South Africa."I think he took it pretty hard," Matt, who is in Fiji with Scotland said. "He had his injury before the squad was announced and he was over the moon (when named in the squad). He had been really diligent in his rehab and he was coming back to a really good place. "Re-injuring it that was definitely a big blow for him, but he's old enough now to sort of realise there's some things he can't do."He did everything right, and these things happen, so I think he's come to accept that. "He's just working away at home to try and get himself back fit and spend some quality time with the kids and his wife."Matt has also been putting in the time to recover from ankle surgery in April, and has managed to "shave a few weeks off" his rehab to join up with Gregor Townsend's Scotland squad for their summer tour of the South Pacific."When Gregor said that he was really keen for me to come on summer tour, that gave me a lot of purpose in what I was doing in my rehab," he added."That definitely drove me on, gave me something to hold on to."

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Celtic manager on why Russell Martin will cope with Rangers pressure

Glasgow Times

38 minutes ago

Glasgow Times

Celtic manager on why Russell Martin will cope with Rangers pressure

Supporters of the Glasgow giants were underwhelmed when former MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager Martin was named as Philippe Clement's successor back at the start of June. But the ex-Scotland internationalist has recruited extensively this summer and his new-look side defeated Panathinaikos of Greece 3-1 on aggregate in the Champions League second qualifying round last month. Read more: Rodgers, who is bidding to land a third consecutive Scottish title in the 2025/26 campaign, admitted that he was looking forward to pitting his wits against the ex-Norwich City defender in the months ahead. The Northern Irishman, who is in his second spell in charge of his boyhood heroes, feels the loan that Martin had as a player in Govan back in 2018 will prove invaluable to his counterpart in his new role. 'I think the challenge always excites you when you come into a new season,' he said. 'I don't know Russell that well, but I've spoken to him. As a young manager and coach through his career, he's done very well. I followed him at Swansea, as a former club, and he did well there. (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) 'Then moving on, getting Southampton promoted is good. To take a team out of the Championship is hard. It's a tough, tough league. But he was able to do that. Obviously, then it was a difficult season for them in the Premier League, but that is a tough, tough league. 'But Russell, having been up here before, knows the pressures. One of the big things about managing Celtic and Rangers is managing pressure. The football idea and the coaching are obviously very important. 'It is important to have an identity and a style, but managing and playing under pressure is what's key up here. Russell, having been here before as a player at Rangers, will know what's in front of him.' Read more: Rodgers added, 'But I think the managers coming into the league make it exciting. Russell at Rangers, Derek at Hearts and Stuart at Killie as well. 'John [McGlynn] has done a brilliant job at Falkirk over a couple of seasons, getting them promoted twice. I know him well, so I know that they'll be giving everything to stay in the league. 'David Martindale is a good man who was in the league for a few years when I was here before. Livingston have come straight back up after getting relegated. Again, they are experienced managers. So I think the league as a whole will be strong and competitive.'

Excitement & nerves over Well's 'new-look approach'

BBC News

39 minutes ago

BBC News

Excitement & nerves over Well's 'new-look approach'

We asked for your views on how Motherwell are shaping up for the new season, which kicks off with the visit of Rangers on what some of you said: George: Looking forward to a new-look approach from Motherwell. However, a bit nervous about the central defence playing out from the back, that area of the team needs First few games will be difficult but with a few more additions hopeful of a decent Recruitment wise so far I've been fairly pleased with the business we have done, centre-half is still a concern as I feel we need to improve that in order to fully adapt to the manager's style of play and we probably could do with another midfielder with the imminent departure of Lennon Miller. Would like to see another striker with a bit of experience come in, if we could do that then I would be more than happy with the squad for the season.

BBC News

39 minutes ago

BBC News

Kilmarnock v Livingston: Team news

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell revealed he had lost two unnamed players to injury in training this week. Jack Thomson is back training but not ready to striker Jeremy Bokila is pushing for his debut but Aidan Denholm faces a scan on a hamstring McLennan and Cristian Montano are not far off fitness while Cammy Kerr faces a lengthy spell of rehab.