Rangers midfielder and Super Eagles hopeful Sheyi Ojo is staying positive and blocking out all the negative energy despite facing harsh criticisms stemming from his half-decent recent displays.
Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo has been the object of harsh backlash from a section of Rangers fans and media following a period of reduced productivity.
The youngster though believes his positive mentality will help him through a trying period with Ojo having not scored since September.
Ojo’s current form is in sharp contrast to the brilliant way he started life for Steven Gerrard’s side before September, when he blasted home five goals and plundered a couple more assists as Rangers rose to the top of the Scottish League.
The youngster is however confident that the good old days will return as long as he enjoys the support of his manager and the club’s fans.
“I just try to block everything out,” Ojo said of the criticism as reported by TribalFootball.
“It’s very difficult to go through a game and not make a mistake, especially as an attacking player.
“You’re in the team to make things happen and there will be times when you lose the ball or have a shot blocked.
“The main thing for players like me is to keep believing and keep focusing on affecting the game as much as I can.
“I’ve developed already in my time at this club. Mentally more than anything. Having a strong mentality is massive in football.
“There are players out there who are really good technically but are not so good mentally and it doesn’t work out for them.
“If you have the right mentality then anything is possible. I’m hungry and I want to get on the ball and make things happen.
“I feel the manager and fans can feel that. I’ll keep working as we have a lot of big games coming up and you need to be ready.
“It has gone well for me so far up in Glasgow but I’m always striving for more. I want to score more goals and provide more assists.”
Ojo has seen Rangers teammate and compatriot earn international caps with Nigeria following impressive displays for Rangers after making the switch from Charlton Athletic in the summer. The Liverpool loaned is thus doubly motivated to star for the Gers as this can only brighten his chances of earning an invitation to team up with Gernot Rohr’s men.
The Super Eagles currently boast of brilliant wingers in the shape of Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and Bordeaux’s Samuel Kalu, not leaving out Nantes Moses Simon and captain Ahmed Musa and it will not be an easy task jumping ahead of that queue for any newbie.
Nigeria earned back to back victories over Benin and Lesotho in November and rose to the 31st position on the FIFA world ranking in the same month.