Lewis Macleod retires as former Rangers star bares all over injury hell

Honest Lewis Macleod has lifted the lid on years of physical and mental struggles after hanging up his boots at 28.

The former Rangers ace, a star of the club’s lower league journey, has called it quits with a right knee injury suffered at Plymouth. He underwent surgery in June last year but endured pain throughout rehab despite great work and support from Rangers physio Steve Walker.

Macleod admits being concerned about a premature end to his career for a long time. He said: “I had always been injury-prone, if you want to say that. Never small injuries, all out long periods. A grade three hamstring tear, heart problem, torn ACL and torn medial ligament. You almost brace yourself for the worst. Honestly, I’ve had that fear from when I left Rangers. And when I eventually got fit, I had it in mind I was never the same as before. I’ve prepared myself for this. Unfortunately, I’ve got to a point where I can’t continue.

“The surgeons say they’ve exhausted all avenues, other than another op. But they’d no idea if it would benefit me. It might even set me back.”

Macleod scored his first goal for Rangers against Montrose 10 years ago today. He netted 16 times for his boyhood club in 76 outings.

Yet he admits his hugely promising career began to unravel before reluctantly leaving for Brentford when suffering a hamstring tear that beset him for nearly two years. He sustained that in December 2014, weeks after his classy displays in the Championship won him a place in the Scotland squad.

Macleod said: “One thing that annoys me is the timing of when it all started to happen and the realisation I was never going to reach the levels I should have. I was playing really well for Rangers, got a Scotland call-up. I did my hamstring