THEY have given Rangers fans plenty to shout about in the past.
Now Leon Balogun can’t wait until he and Connor Goldson are back screaming at each other again.
The pair formed a formidable defensive partnership during Gers’ 2021 title triumph.
Steven Gerrard’s side went the full season unbeaten and kept an incredible 26 clean sheets, shipping just four goals at Ibrox as they surpassed the 100-point mark.
Conceding just 13 goals across the entire league campaign saw them establish a new British record.
Now, having sealed an emotional return to Ibrox earlier this month, Balogun will soon be reunited with his pal.
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Goldson is currently out injured but is working flat out on his fitness as he targets a return to action in August.
And ahead of tonight’s friendly against Olympiacos, Balogun said: “I can’t wait for him to be back on the field. It will be us shouting at each other all over again.
“Seriously, sometimes you need that bit of tension to keep us both on our toes.
“We had that amongst the whole back four and it’s still there now.
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“That’s where the competitiveness comes in and the demands you have for yourself and for the club.
“You have to win. We understand that and I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the new guys know that too.
“That’s one thing that’s driven home every day. If you look around the training ground, the whole place is set up for you to understand.
“You are here to win and nothing else.
“That’s what helped me when I was here for the first time. Everything tells you this is the way.”
Goldson, Balogun and Filip Helander were pivotal during the Covid-hit campaign which saw Gers crush Celtic’s hopes of ten in a row.
Swedish stopper Helander was one of five high-profile departures in the summer, with Balogun sealing his return as one of seven new arrivals.
And he sees no reason why he and Goldson can’t pick up from where they left off.
Balogun said: “That understanding we had doesn’t always happen in football, but it was good for us because we got along off the park as well.
“That always helps. It always helps that if outside of football you are looking in the same direction. If you build a relationship off the park it’s easier when you are playing.
“And it’s something I am looking forward to doing again. Not just with Connor, but with the rest.
“There are more than just two centre-halves, whoever they may be, and we need that relationship throughout the team.”
Goldson was injured at the end of last season and was always likely to miss Gers’ Champions League qualifiers.
With Ben Davies facing an uncertain future, Leon King’s injury during pre-season forced boss Michael Beale to act.
Balogun insists he’d have walked back to Glasgow having left QPR. He said: “There was great disappointment when I left. Our masseur said to me at one point, ‘Leon, you have found your home’. That really hit home for me because he was right.
“It was tough to leave, I stayed here for three months afterwards just trying to keep myself fit.
“It wasn’t easy, you always have to move on and I was able to. Now I am back and it’s an even greater feeling.
“It still feels a bit unreal. I have received a lot of messages saying I should never have been let go, but coming back I am so happy.
“I got a good reception around Allan McGregor’s testimonial, which was nice because it was one legend leaving the stage.
“To get my own reception was very flattering.”
Balogun also had words of encouragement for King.
The young defender’s injury is not as bad as first feared with 35-year-old Balogun revealing he’s already well on the road to recovery.
He said: “I spoke to him last week. Literally he was in a boot, then he was on crutches, then he was limping and a few days later I saw him.
“I said, ‘what are you drinking?’. Four days ago he was on crutches and then he was back jumping.
“I don’t think I need to give him words of encouragement. He is one of the younger guys and he plays in the same position as me, so I will try to be there to help.”
Amid last season’s defensive injury crisis, King was thrown in at the deep end as Gers were humiliated in the group stages of the Champions League.
But Balogun is adamant the experience will stand King in good stead.
He said: “Most successful people in the world will tell you they learned their greatest lessons from failure or hardships. It’s no different with him.
“Since I first met him he’s been the same. Humble, head down, works hard.
“So I am pretty sure he will have taken the right lessons from what happened last year.
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“At the same time, he needs to enjoy being on that kind of stage already.
“At his age, it’s about getting game time and gaining experience. If he gets it at the highest level then he has nothing to complain about.”
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