Livingston loanee Adam Lewis says last weekend's victory over Celtic was extra special - because it was four-month-old daughter Luchia's first game.
The 21-year-old has been getting to grips with life both on and off the pitch since arriving on loan from Liverpool and admits he's grateful for the support of Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.
The defender was Gerrard's captain at under-18 level with the Anfield side with Lewis saying he was taken aback when the Ibrox gaffer sent flowers to his fiancee Libby shortly after the couple welcomed their new arrival.
And his former boss took time to give some words of advice after the two teams met in Wednesday's League Cup quarter-final, which Rangers won 2-0. It was Lewis's second game back after missing six weeks due to a hamstring tear.
Lewis said: "Steven Gerrard was my coach at Under-18 and I was his captain. I’ve got a good relationship with him and spoke to him after the game the other night. He just said to me to get games under my belt and see where I go from there.
“It’s great to get advice from someone like that and even off the pitch I’ve just had a little baby and he sent me flowers for the missus. Stuff like that, he’s a great man and I’ll always remember that.”
Lewis admits last Sunday’s 1-0 win over the Bhoys meant even more considering Luchia and Libby were at the match.
He added: “My daughter actually came to the game on Sunday for the first time so that made it even more special that we got the win.
“Libby came up here with me and has sacrificed a lot for my career. I owe a lot to her. The baby was born and then two weeks later we moved up here and moved away from our family. We said it was for our future and I believe something’s going to come good for me this year.
“I also popped the question last month so it’s all happening just now.
“I go home and when I see my baby it brings a smile to my face. I forget about missing home and especially having been in France for six months last year on loan at Amiens.
“That was the most difficult thing ever, with Covid I couldn’t go home, but now it’s only three hours away in the car if I need to go back, but I love it here. We’ve all been settled since day one and she has as well so it’s perfect.”
Having crossed paths with his former boss on Wednesday night, Lewis is looking forward to crossing paths with an old class-mate and team-mate at Tynecastle today.
The left-back came through the Anfield ranks with Ben Woodburn, who moved to the capital club in the summer on a loan deal from the Reds.
He added: “I’d played with Ben most of my career and he’s pushed on himself. It should be a good game and I don’t want to focus on that too much, it’s just about us getting the right result.
“We know each other very well, we went to school together and played through the youth ranks. I’ll have a bit of banter with him before and after the game but obviously the main focus is getting the win.
“He texted me asking about it up here and I was honest and told him he’d love it and he made the move.
“He got the spotlight early doors at Liverpool but he’s managed it well and he’s got to push on at Hearts.”
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