SCOTT ARFIELD insists he is only focused on winning silverware at Rangers after playing down the prospect of returning to England after just one season at Ibrox.

The midfielder has been one of the key performers for Steven Gerrard’s side this term after moving on a free transfer from Burnley last summer.

Arfield was the first arrival of the Gerrard era last May as he put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal and returned to Scotland after starting his career with Falkirk.

His fine form in Light Blue has seen him linked with Premier League clubs Southampton and Crystal Palace amid talk of a potential £3million move.

But the 30-year-old has no intention of heading back across the border this summer as he looks to bring success to Rangers as part of Gerrard’s Gers squad.

Arfield said: “I love playing football and in recent weeks the manager has pushed me higher up the pitch and it’s given me an opportunity to get some goals. When you have good footballers in the middle three it makes your job easier.

“We just need to finish the season strongly and get going next season.

“I’m loving life at the minute. I made the decision to come back here and represent this club and my sole focus is to win games for this club, nothing else.

“With the players that are coming in there is going to be more competition for places so I expect us to really kick on next season.

“This season we have fallen short with our levels of consistency but with the new players coming in I think it’s exciting times. When you get an opportunity you will need to take it. All great teams are built around that level of competition.

“Listen, I am happy here, I am settled and at the end of the day it’s a privilege to be here.

“Anyone who comes in here who doesn’t know that when they walk in the door they are not long in learning. I was brought up in this county and I know how big this football club is. I never take it for granted.

Every day I walk through the front doors I am grateful. What happens is down to the manager, it has nothing to do with me. I’m focused on this football club and nothing will knock me from that.”

Arfield collected the Player of the Month prize for April on Friday after helping Rangers to four successive wins in their matches with Hearts, Motherwell and Aberdeen.

Not all of the signings that Gerrard made last summer have had the same impact as Arfield and many have found the going tough under the Ibrox spotlight.

But the Canadian international is thriving with the pressure and demands from the supporters after several seasons in England with Huddersfield and Burnley.

Arfield said: “The dressing room is full of players like that. As soon as you come in you know that straight away. There are people who have sat in the dressing room, have had years of experience at this football club. If you don’t know what it means you quickly know.

“Off the pitch as well … you quickly know living about this city how big this is. This is people’s lives and we don’t take it for granted.

“You’ve an opportunity to be here and to be a hero. If you don’t take it you are quickly shown the door.

“I’ve loved living in the so-called goldfish bowl. My whole family have loved it.

“It might be a personality thing. You see people who are good players who have come up to this city and it’s not worked out for them for different reasons.

“Personally, I think the off-field aspect is probably bigger than the on field.

“The demand off the pitch. The expectation off the pitch. How you carry yourself. That’s as what you do on the pitch.

“I’ve absolutely loved it. I can understand why some players can’t handle it. There are other cities in the UK that are exactly the same as this.

“This probably just gets more publicised as there are two huge clubs in the same city.

“There are other cities that have got that but I’ve loved every minute.”