Ross McCausland never imagined gaining the novelty honour of having a PIZZA named after him.
The wing ace has carved out a large slice of Rangers fame for himself since breaking into Philippe Clement’s team. But he reckons the full impact of his breakthrough season will only sink in when he heads back to Northern Ireland for the first time.
McCausland, 20, will then see first-hand the superstar status he’s afforded in Antrim. He has caught glimpses online and pics from friends and family that show him as the poster boy in pubs where Gers games are shown. Parents Lorraine and Alan are quizzed constantly on his Ibrox progress.
But the McCausland pizza tops the lot – and takes the worship to a new level. McCausland will continue living the dream with his boyhood club today as title-chasing Rangers host Kilmarnock.
The club’s Young Player Of The Year has made 33 appearances so far this term. He also started the Viaplay Cup Final win over Aberdeen and made his senior international debut in Finland within a whirlwind few months.
McCausland said: “I’ve not had a chance to reflect on everything that has happened. I’ll definitely look back in the summer and think: ‘Wow, what a season.’ It’s been crazy, to say the least. Having my breakthrough season, collecting my first trophy, to get the award with Rangers and to be nominated for the PFA award – it’s amazing.
“The international scene as well was what I dreamed of as a kid. I have achieved that and hopefully there will be many more caps to come. But, believe it or not, I’ve not actually been home yet. There are bars with pictures of me on the wall, things like that. To see my face in these posters and getting pizzas named after me and stuff like that – it’s crazy.
“It’s what you dream of as a kid. Well, maybe not to get a pizza named after me! But the posters definitely. I think it’s topped with pineapple – and I am NEVER getting pineapple on a pizza!”
McCausland’s homecoming will be cause for a major celebration if he snares more silverware to go with his League Cup gong. Clement’s men have four games left to overhaul leaders Celtic in the Premiership title race Then it’s back to Hampden for the first Old Firm Scottish Cup Final in 22 years.
He said: “My mum and dad tell me all the time that they get stopped in the street by people asking how I am getting on. It’s a small town and everyone is just chuffed.
"I have so many people back home supporting me. They text me all the time. So it’s going to be good to reconnect with them and see how they are feeling about the situation. I think it will be chaotic!
“Obviously, I have a medal to take home, which I am proud of and hopefully everyone else will be too Of course, it would be good to add to that. But we are just taking that by game by game at the minute. We are in an amazing position with a lot still to play for so we’ll keep doing what we are doing.”
McCausland’s prominent role has wildly exceeded pre-season
expectations that pitched him as a potential loan man. He opted to stay at Ibrox to try to impress for a first-team chance – and got it as soon as Michael Beale left the building.
McCausland hasn’t looked back since playing the entire second half of the 3-0 win over St Mirren when Northern Ireland legend Steven Davis was in interim charge. When asked if he’d set himself any targets for the season, McCausland replied: “To be honest, no.
“It came at me so fast I didn’t have the chance to think. Probably the best way to put it is that I was excited and, the more success I got, the more I wanted. Last summer I was thinking about going on loan to try and get more experience. It’s good to look back on stuff like that and reflect.
“There are a lot of guys who’ve had loans away from Rangers. Some have worked, some haven’t. When it comes down to things like that, it’s probably you that makes the decision. You have people telling you what they think is best for you. But it also comes down to your gut feeling.
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“You know what works best for you and what would play out the best in the future. Looking back now and the decision I made, it has panned out in my favour.”
McCausland is in contention for PFA Scotland’s Young Player Of The Year prize. Landing the prestigious award tonight would enhance his profile as another sporting prospect for his people to be proud of.
He added: “I’ve seen people from around my old area and Northern Ireland go on to be successful. I’ve a lot of friends – Conor Bradley at Liverpool, Josh Carson who was in England and is now back at Coleraine – who’ve gone on.
“Then there’s boxer Carl Frampton who is from the area. I have also friends still at Linfield. Seeing them doing well is good as it shows there’s quality coming out of Northern Ireland. It’s good for our game.”
