RYAN GAULD has waited years for his chance to shine at Sporting Lisbon.
Now his former mentor Stevie Campbell believes it has finally arrived.
Gauld exploded on to the scene as a youngster at Dundee United before making an astonishing £3m switch to Sporting, aged just 18.
Since then, he has made only a handful of appearances for the Lisbon giants’ first-team.
But amidst chaos off the field in the Portuguese capital – where Sporting fans attacked their own players at the training ground at the end of the last season, and the club president and manager have both been sacked –Gauld has been named in the first-team squad for the coming season.
For Brechin City coach Campbell, who headed up Dundee United’s youth set-up as Gauld came to prominence, it’s an opportunity that will be snatched.
“I’m delighted for Gauldy,” said Campbell.
“He’s one I’ve stayed in touch with, and I believe he’s determined to make the most of the chance.
“The circumstances at the club are difficult. The manager who has just been sacked had only been there for nine days.
“But Ryan has had to be patient for a long time now, and I reckon he’ll be happy to wait and see what happens next.
“When he went to Portugal, he was very young and I know he fully expected to have to wait for his chance.
“He has certainly had to do that. But people here forget that he has had a lot of games on loan in the Portuguese top league, so he has been playing at a very good level.
“People also forget that he hadn’t played very many first-team games for Dundee United when he got his move, so he has had to build that up.
“That’s what he has done – and now he’ll be absolutely determined to show he can make the grade at Sporting.
“I believe he’s capable of doing exactly that.”
The swashbuckling attacker that United fans fell in love with four years ago has been replaced by a shrewd, playmaking central midfielder since Gauld moved to Portugal.
His conversion has gone down well with Campbell.
“Having to change position is probably another factor in why Ryan has taken bit of time to rise to the first team at Sporting,” he said.
“That’s to be expected.
“But he’s still the talented player he always was, and has got more first-team experience to go with it.
“That stands him in good stead to show what he’s all about at Sporting.
“He’s embraced the football in Portugal – and the language and lifestyle – so he absolutely deserves his chance.”
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