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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Matthew Fulton

Joe Aribo breaks silence on Southampton exile as ex-Rangers star reveals reason for EPL cold storage

Joe Aribo admits he's not 'too fazed' by being in exile at Southampton and insists his time will come on the south coast.

The former Rangers midfielder, who was a key player in his three-plus years at Ibrox, made the move to the English Premier League in the summer with one of his last actions in light blue being a goal in the Europa League final that Gio Van Bronckhorst's men lost on penalties. Aribo logged 70 games that season for club and country Nigeria but has since fell by the wayside.

A package worth £10m to the Glasgow side was agreed but Aribo found long-term boss Ralph Hassenhuttl sacked just a few months in to his arrival before flop replacement Nathan Jones barely used the 26-year-old. Aribo has managed just 37 minutes of Premier League action in 2023 but believes he can break out of the rut.

READ MORE: Todd Cantwell branded Rangers 'maverick' as former coach admits career 'stagnated' due to key factor

Aribo told Elegbete TV Sport: "It is the coach's decision. I think every single coach has his own opinion on things. For me I'm not really too fazed because it's processes. For me it's growing pains. I just need to be patient and just wait on God's timing which is perfect."

On going from number one at Rangers to out of favour: "Of course, it is difficult. For any normal human it will be difficult. I don't let that affect me too much.

"I'm pretty strong-minded so how I deal with disappointment I kind of use it to charge me and just trying to improve the best that I can. At the end of the day I shouldn't stress but have faith."

The attacker, however, was an unused sub for his country as the Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Guinea-Bissau in AFCON qualifying on Friday.

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