IF YOU DON'T MASK YOU DON'T GET

Danilo reveals he feels empowered by face covering and thanks mind coach for giving him strength and belief as he battled back from horror injury

-  ANDY NEWPORT

DAZZLING Danilo reckons it would be a shame to hide his good looks behind a mask.

But Rangers' new last-gasp action hero says he might stick with his protective face covering after claiming it has given him new mental super powers.

The Brazilian climbed off the bench to nod home his dramatic injury-time winner against Hearts yesterday.

It was the former Feyenoord frontman's first goal since suffering a painful whack as he netted against St Johnstone six weeks ago.

The collision with Liam Gordon saw him suffer a broken cheekbone as he was forced to undergo corrective surgery.

But it also left him suffering with a reluctance to put his head in where it hurts.

However, with the help of his mask and weekly sessions in front of a mental coach, Dr Jill Harley, Danilo has quickly overcome his fears as he proved with his vital winner against the Jambos.

He said: "When I wear the mask, it's like (I'm) a totally different guy.

I really like it just now.

"I'd just like to thank the docs because they did a great job.

"Will I keep on wearing it on my face when I don't need to? It's too handsome! "I don't know how long I'll keep wearing the mask.

"But I also have a mental coach who helps me every Tuesday.

"When I had my surgery, I knew my moment would come. I was keeping in touch with the doc every day. She encouraged me to make duels.

"She knew this moment would happen and then it would be about my reaction.