Incoming Rangers new boy Nnamdi Ofoborh has revealed he sat out of Wycombe's relegation battle in a bid to ensure he was fit and ready for joining the Ibrox side this summer.
The Nigerian youngster signed a pre-contract from Bournemouth in January and then joined Wycombe on loan to get some much needed game time ahead of the summer switch.
There was concern among the Ibrox support over his lack of game time for the Championship strugglers but he's now revealed it was a personal decision to protect himself and the club.
Ofoborh had to watch from the sidelines as the Chairboys suffered relegation to League One but he insists he would have done more damage long term if he played.
The 21-year-old has been nursing a hip problem and after discussions with Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth, they decided he wouldn't play again after March.
Ofoborh is still recovering but he's confident he can be ready to get involved in pre-season when he finally joins up with Steven Gerrard's title winners this summer.
He told the Sunday Mail: “I was struggling with an injury when I got to Wycombe on loan last season.
“In the last few months it just got worse. It got to a point where I didn’t feel it was right for the coaches to put me in.
“It wouldn’t have been fair on me or the team. People didn’t know this because we didn’t speak about it publicly at the time.
“But I was struggling with the injury and that’s why I didn’t play. It was difficult to get my head around it. I could see on social media that Wycombe fans were wondering where I was.
“They didn’t know if it was down to me not playing well or not being able to be selected. But it was none of that. I just couldn’t do it. I was already at less than 100 per cent when I got there.
“During and after the first few games, I was nowhere near it. So we all thought it would be best to leave me out. I didn’t want to hurt myself or damage my chances before I even got up to Rangers.
“I didn’t want to risk anything. But at the same time I wanted to help Wycombe survive relegation from the Championship.
“I had to look at the bigger picture. I spoke to my family and the gaffer at Wycombe – and we decided that it would be better not to ruin anything or make it worse than it was.
“I’m confident that when I get to Rangers for pre-season I’ll be ready to go. I’m still on the mend but by the time I get there I hope to be where I need to be.”
