Rangers' Fernandez grateful to get Old Firm crack at Celtic 

DERBY DUTY: Emmanuel Fernandez, who will be "grateful" to take part in his first Old Firm derby when Rangers travel to Celtic on Saturday. Issue date: Wednesday December 31, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

Emmanuel Fernandez will be "grateful" to take part in his first Old Firm derby when Rangers travel to Celtic on Saturday.

The 24-year-old defender has had a far from glamorous career to date and he had loan spells at Spalding United and Barnet before signing for Rangers from Peterborough in the summer for a reported fee of around £3million.

He was an unused substitute in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic at Hampden Park in November and the goalless derby draw in the William Hill Premiership at Ibrox in August.

However the Londoner has in recent weeks established himself in Danny Rohl's defence and he scored the second goal in the hard-fought 2-1 win over St Mirren at Ibrox on Tuesday night which took Rangers to within six points of league leaders Hearts and three behind the Hoops, who lost 2-0 at Motherwell to pile pressure on under-fire boss Wilfried Nancy.

"We've just got to stay focused about ourselves, get to the weekend and deal with it," said Fernandez.

"I can't wait for it because I think it'll be my first derby and we've just got to go into the game with the mentality that we get three points and move on to the next.

"I couldn't be more grateful to be involved in that game.

"Obviously, it's a massive derby and I've just got to be excited and ready for it and focus in the game and see where that gets me.

"I don't think it will (faze me), personally, because I have played in front of a lot of people before and it's just about focus and belief in yourself.

"And you're still playing a football game at the end of the day and you've just got to focus on what's happening on the pitch."

On a freezing night at Ibrox, midfielder Thelo Aasgaard scored in the 39th minute with his second goal in two games before Fernandez added a second in the 52nd minute with a well-taken volley from a Youssef Chermiti cross.

Goalkeeper Jack Butland saved a penalty from Saints captain Marcus Fraser in the 75th minute before Buddies striker Mikael Mandron pulled a goal back seven minutes later to leave the home side hanging on for three crucial points.

It was a fourth goal of the season for Fernandez and he gave credit to set-piece coach Scott Fry.

He said: "Scott has had a big help in me getting these goals.

"He always talks about second phases and what we need to do.

"I think both of our goals were from second phases, from a set-piece.

"It's difficult, because as I do keep winning it (in the air), people defend differently and maybe put two players on you.

"But I do back myself as long as I get the right movement and the delivery is good.

"I don't think many people stop me. But it's just about getting the right timing and keep on going.

"So I'm enjoying the run and it's about continuing this run and keep going and getting three points as much as possible."