Plight of ex-teammate gives Sone Aluko perspective

RANGERS winger Sone Aluko admits the plight of former Birmingham team-mate Fabrice Muamba has put football into perspective for him.

Aluko was shocked to hear of Bolton midfielder Muamba’s cardiac arrest and then the death of Jack Kelly, who collapsed with a suspected heart attack moments after son Liam had helped Kilmarnock win the League Cup final.

Aluko and his team-mates took pay cuts of up to 75 per cent earlier this month in order to prevent redundancies at Rangers but the weekend’s events made him reflect.

The 23-year-old told his club’s official website: “These moments really put the game, and life, in perspective.

“What we do is a blessing and even at the low points you can’t forget that it isn’t as bad as what could happen.

“I was with Fabrice for a couple of seasons at Birmingham and he’s a top boy. I’m happy to hear that he’s talking and starting to move so hopefully he recovers fully soon.

“For his partner and his family, his health is the most important thing.

“For football in general it’s good news because nobody wants to see a player that ill.

“Even though we have rivalries and competitiveness in the game, everyone has pulled together and thought ‘this is more important than who you support’.”