NIKO KRANJCAR admits it would have been ‘easy’ for him to hang up his boots after being ruled out for the rest of the season.

But the midfielder has vowed to return to action for Rangers as he continues on the road to recovery from a knee injury.

Kranjcar scored three goals in 15 appearances for Mark Warburton’s side after making the move to Ibrox from New York Cosmos in the summer.

After a slow start to the season, the playmaker had shown glimpses of his quality as he had gained match fitness and adjusted to life in Scottish football.

But his debut campaign in Light Blue was cut short when he sustained cruciate ligament damage during a training session at Auchenhowie in October.

The Croatian will not play for Warburton’s side again until next season and he is determined to prove that he was right to avoid taking an early retirement from the game.

Kranjcar said: "It's always difficult when you get hurt, especially because I was really enjoying it.

"It gave me a shake, but the injury did not throw me into the pit of despair. Something in my head said, 'don't give up'.

"Of course it would have been easy for me to end my career, because this is the most serious injury I have ever had as a footballer. But I am hoping I will be back within six months.

"And I am convinced that, if I continue my rehabilitation, I still have a few good seasons left for me at Rangers."