Steven Whittaker believes that Sone Aluko's confidence will not be affected despite receiving a ban for diving in only his second game for the club.
Rangers man believes that team-mate will not lose confidence
Rangers defender Steven Whittaker believes that Sone Aluko's confidence will not be affected despite receiving a ban for diving in only his second game for the club.
Aluko is now suspended for two matches after the Scottish Football Association found him guilty of simulation and he will miss the clashes against Hibernian and Inverness.
The left winger was penalised after winning a penalty in the Light Blues' 2-1 Scottish Premier League victory against Dunfermline on Saturday, but Whittaker insists that the ban will not affect his team-mate's upcoming performances.
"I don't think his confidence will be affected. He is a confident boy and we can see that in is play. We are obviously disappointed," said Whittaker.
"He made a great start to his career when he came into the team and we are going to miss him.
"Hopefully when he comes back he can stay in the same form he was in. He's probably realised that he's at a massive club but it hasn't stopped him from putting in the performances that he has. I think we've got a real player.
"As team-mates, we have appreciated what he's done and I'm sure he will continue that form and we can see what a good player he is. He has definitely given us a spark."
Adapt
The ex-Aberdeen player went to ground when challenged by Martin Handle which controversially allowed Ally McCoist's men to go 2-0 up when Nikica Jelavic scored the following spot-kick.
Whittaker claims that he has not yet seen the clash, adding: "At the time of the incident I was 50 yards away and I've not seen it again since. We are just disappointed that he is not going to play in these two games."
The Scotland international believes that simulation is not a big problem in the SPL and he insists that if it does happen then players have to just focus and carry on playing.
"I don't think so. It does happen all over the world, maybe more on the continent. It shouldn't happen and, if it does, you adapt to it," said Whittaker.
"You don't go out to end up with bans; you just try to play the game the best you can. If circumstances pop up after that, you deal with it."
