RYAN JACK has accused Cedric Kipre of intentionally hurting him in the ‘shocking’ challenge that wrecked his first season at Rangers.

The midfielder suffered a serious knee injury in a 2-0 win over Motherwell in December after a crude tackle from the Steelmen stopper.

Jack has fought his way back to full fitness in time for the new campaign but is still unhappy at the late stamp from Kipre.

He said: “I knew I was injured and I knew I was in a bit of bother but that’s football, you just have to take it in the chin, move on and stay strong.

“It’s how you react and how you return, I’ve worked hard to get back now and hopefully I can keep that going.

“I knew straight away because I couldn’t bend my knee. As soon as the physios came on I knew I’d done something to my knee.

“Obviously I didn’t know the extent until I had the scans and you see the medical team and the doctors but I knew myself straight away I’d done something to my knee. But it’s behind me now and I’m looking forward.

“I thought it was a shocking tackle, to be honest. There is no point me sitting and saying I thought it was a good challenge or an unlucky challenge, I thought he waited until I got the ball and then he knew he had a chance to hurt me and he did. Obviously it’s behind me now and I look forward.

“Of course I’ve watched it back and every time I saw it it’s not nice. It’s never nice to watch back and see yourself get injured.

“But it is one of things I can learn from in the future. As I say it’s behind me now and I just want to go forward.”

Former Ibrox boss Graeme Murty claimed there was ‘no intent’ from Kipre as he defended the Ivorian in the aftermath of the controversial challenge.

But Jack won’t change his view of the incident that incensed Gers fans and left him out of action for several months.

“No, not really,” he said when asked if Murty had spoken to him before defending Kipre.

“Obviously we just found out the results and Graeme, like any other manager just rang me and said it’s bad news, all the best, the club will look after you, the medical team will look after you and we’ll stay strong around you to make sure that you return.

“I think everyone obviously has different opinions. If you sat ten people, maybe five would say it was a shocking tackle and five would say it wasn’t too bad.

“If I got asked at the time it would have been the same, I thought it was a shocking tackle at the time and I do still think it was a shocking tackle but, as I say, nothing was done, the referee didn’t even give a foul at the time.

“There you go, certain people get sent off for certain things that aren’t sending offs and people get away with bad challenges that put people out for six months. It just shows where it’s at but hopefully it’s behind me and I can move on.”