Ex-Rangers star's career end diagnosis was a blow, even if he was prepared for it

Lewis Macleod was prepared for surgeons to tell him his career was over at 28... but says the shock of being forced to retire is a hammer blow.

The former Rangers ace says he did everything he could to stay in the game, but surgeons ultimately told him it was time up.

While the Newmains man is happy he was able to give his career the best shot he could, he has been remarkably unlucky with injuries over the 10-year span which also included spells at Brentford, Wigan Athletic and Plymouth Argyle down south.

That eventually took its toll, and the midfielder who started out at in the game with his local youth team Newmains Hammers, is now looking to get into coaching as he prepares for a new chapter.

He told Lanarkshire Live Sport : “It was difficult but I think in a sense I had almost prepared myself for it.

“It didn’t totally take my by surprise, it was just that I never thought it would happen this quickly.

“But at the same time I’ve had my fair share of long-term injuries.

“I wouldn’t say I expected it, but I definitely prepared myself for this to happen, sooner than normally.

“I tried everything I could to get back fit, but it was the specialist who basically said ‘we’ve tried everything we can unless I try another surgery but you’re not guaranteed that it’s going to change anything at all’.

“I just took the decision. Well, they took it out of my hands, kind of, and they just said ‘hang up the boots’.

“It’s one of those things.”

Macleod appeared to be struck down with injuries just as he was hitting his stride at Rangers, where he spent two-and-a-half years and won the Third Division title in 2012/13 and League One in 2013/14.

Despite earning moves away from Ibrox, injures ranging from hamstring, to ACL, heart