DECLAN JOHN is confident he can fend off the challenge from captain Lee Wallace and retain his starting spot for the end of season run-in at Ibrox.

The Welshman has made the left-back berth his own this term as he has taken advantage of Wallace’s injury woes that have kept him out of action for several months.

The Light Blues’ skipper has returned to full training but the visit of Hearts this afternoon could come too soon for him to get back on the park.

Read more: Graeme Murty hopes Rangers' perseverance and the fans' patience pays off at Ibrox​

Wallace faces a fight to earn himself a spot in Graeme Murty’s starting line-up and John reckons he has done enough to prove his worth this term.

He said: “I hope so and hope I’ve shown over the last few months what I can do on the pitch.

“Some of the things I bring to the team have helped us at certain times and I’m just hoping to stay in the team now, all the way through.

“Yes of course he has [been a help]. Since the first day I came in he as the first person I spoke to and he showed me around the training ground.

“It’s a big boost he’s back and I’m really happy for him to be back training. We’ll have to see where it goes.

“I think out of the three goals I have scored, two have been with my right foot. I would say the one against Kilmarnock was a bit of a shank, really, but it did go into the bottom corner.

“That is something I have to work on. About a year ago, the manager I was working under at the time said that if I could run forward and cut inside I could cause people problems because they don’t know which way I am going to. That is something I worked on and I think that has shown.”

After initially moving to Ibrox on loan from Cardiff City in the summer, John agreed a new long-term deal with the Gers as he made the switch permanent during the January window.

Read more: Graeme Murty hopes Rangers' perseverance and the fans' patience pays off at Ibrox​

He has three goals in 24 appearances as he has become a key part of Murty's plans and turned in some solid showings in Light Blue.

And he hopes he will get the chance to add to his two international caps in the future after the appointment of Welsh legend Ryan Giggs as boss.

John said: "I'm hoping to get a recall soon. I'll just hope to keep playing well and hopefully the manager gives me a chance. I don't know him, I've seen him play.

“I was excited by the appointment. For a person who played until he was 40 and had the career he had at United is incredible. For Wales to have someone like him coming in is good for us.

"I supported United as a kid so watching him play, I'd try to copy him in certain ways, try to get the ball like him and go past three or four players at a time. That was something I wanted to do.”