Leon Balogun loving relentless Rangers demands from Clement but veteran explains why Belgian is no 'dictator'

Leon Balogun is the last player you’ll hear complaining about a hectic festive football schedule and having to train on Christmas Day.

The Rangers defender has lived life on the other side of tracks, fearing a career that had taken to the brink of the 2014 World Cup, was going to fizzle out after a club released him because he’d suffered a serious injury. So, playing a few games over Christmas and New Year for a club with one trophy in the cabinet and still chasing three more, is hardly likely to elicit a moan from the Nigeria international, who at 35 is loving every single minute of his second spell at Ibrox.

Balogun has become new Gers boss Philippe Clement’s preferred choice at left centre back alongside Connor Goldson and will almost certainly feature when Ross County come calling tonight. The only way he’d miss out is if Clement wants him fresh for the Old Firm clash on Saturday but Balogun would play every minute of every match if asked and admits he takes the same attitude into every training session.

“I am 35, I have been trying to live like that for a few years now in order to add some years towards the end,” he said. “It is not working out so bad for me. We are very privileged as footballers to be doing what we are doing. There comes a lot of joy with it, a lot of nice things come with being a footballer.

“There’s a lot of sacrifice as well. But we have all the time in the world. You need to work on your craft all the time to be the best version that you can be.

“If you want to win trophies, if you want to play for the best teams in the world then you need to make sure you are constantly at it. I think that should be a given.

“I don’t know how much you know about me but, at one point in my career, I was 26,