Rangers’ Antonio Colak talks Dado Prso inspiration and ‘all the circles round a tree’

The 30th birthday will roll around for Rangers striker Antonio Colak in 10 months’ time.

The cinch Premiership’s top scorer, and newly-conferred player of the month for October, refuses to countenance that means his one opportunity to represent his Croatian homeland in a World Cup is right now. Or more specifically through the amiable character – who has bagged 14 goals in all competitions since his £1.8m summer move from POAK – being included in the 26-man squad that will be announced on Wednesday for the imminent Qatar finals. The forward’s belief “there are always nice stories that football writes” has him convinced he could still be breaking new ground four years from now, whatever happens in the coming days. And he cites the example of a fellow countryman whose football footsteps he is following in through leading the line at the Ibrox club. As well as two storied and seasoned elite performers – one also Croatian – who are currently demonstrating being in their footballing autumn years need be no barrier to remaining at the very summit of the game.

“I think Dado Prso made his first game for the national team at 29…so you know, there is never a peak,” said the Rangers frontman, who hopes his recent exploits will earn him the World Cup nod. “I could also win the Champions League at 34. I don’t set any limits. Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or at 34, [Karim] Benzema also. You know there are big things you can achieve in such a short period. Look what I have achieved in a short period at Rangers. It is just about being positive, working hard, and you can achieve a lot.

“My hope and motivation is what I had as a kid [when watching Dado] and it’s still what I have in front of me. I know that what I’ve achieved until now is all about hard work. Nobody has given me a present or a gift. It was always hard work and a mindset that have brought me to the level I’m at now. This is what I want to continue. I hope I can stay healthy to achieve similar things.”

Rangers Antonio Colak hopes to have done enough to make Croatia's World Cup squad with the scoring exploits that have earned him the latest cinch Premiership player of the month award but the 29-year-old doesn't believe it need be his only opportunity to represent his country at this level. Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

Colak is in no doubt Croatia can achieve much in the Middle East jamboree following on from reaching the World Cup final four years ago. “I think so,” the Rangers attacker said of whether his country could replicate that accomplishment. “I have been there a couple of times in the group now and they have had a lot of time together. They have a lot of important players in the team. I would compare it to being like a tree. All the circles around it makes it really strong.

"You have Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozović in the middle, and you see how they hold and stick the team together. I think it is really important in a tournament to have a team who have not just come together but have known each other for a long time. I think this team is capable of going a long way in the tournament. But every tournament is different.”