Update: Filip Helander discusses the Rangers mystery that spurred retirement rumours and his Ibrox homecoming.

There was concern and doubt. His Rangers career was coming to an end, and he spent nearly the whole final season

on the treatment table, wondering what would happen next.

Few will be surprised to see Filip Helander do 90-minute performances every week in Odense. The Swedish centre-

back did not kick a ball last season and 11 times the prior season, and his return to regularity was accomplished with

no adjustments or disruptions to his routine.

Captaining Odense, who gave him a one-year contract last year, is a personal milestone for him, and he is pleased

with it. His future may be uncertain, but it is far preferable than the uncertainty that surrounded him when he left

Rangers in May.

Some had even begun to question if he would ever play again. Helander is simply relieved that everything is behind him.

“It’s been good,” the 30-year-old told the Glasgow World. “I was out for a long period, almost so long that people

didn’t know if I’d be able to continue playing football, and so on. It feels great. It took some time, but I feel really

wonderful now.

“I was injured for the majority of my last year and a half with the Rangers.” There was little I could do. When you

suffer a major injury, it takes time, which is sad because I enjoyed my time at Rangers. There are some factors that

cannot be avoided, which contributed to my long-term injury. I can’t say I’ve altered anything, and so far I’m feeling

good.

What made matters worse was the obscurity surrounding the source of his conflict. He waited for five months,

unknowing of the operation he required, because the severity of his foot problem was uncertain.

“I was always keeping myself fit and as long as everything felt good, all the other stuff would come by itself,” he

stated. “When you have a serious injury and there are uncertainties, you are naturally concerned that everything will

not work out.

“I always tried to remain optimistic, although we had thought everything would go faster than it did. Of course you

are concerned; that is a fact. The injury was so uncommon that I didn’t know any teammates or players who had it. It

was difficult to say how long I would be out.

“It was an uncommon foot injury, and it took a long time to schedule surgery since we didn’t think I needed it. It was

the reason it took so long, since I waited more than five months for the procedure. We assumed I didn’t need it, but

in the end I did.

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