JON FLANAGAN is confident Rangers fans will soon see the best of him as he looks to kick-on from an encouraging end to his first campaign at Ibrox.

The full-back made 30 appearances for Steven Gerrard’s side last term and finished the season in fine form.

Flanagan was part of the Light Blues squad that spent last week in Portugal as Gerrard stepped up his preparations for the Europa League qualifiers against Prishtina or St Joseph’s.

Flanagan said: “I worked hard over the summer, my aim was to take it easy over the break and come back in the best possible shape. I have been doing well so far so I just need to continue that.

“I did a lot of runs over the summer and concentrated on my diet. I just chilled out and didn’t go too mad!

“It was important to me to come back like that, I wanted to carry on where I left off last year. I played the last six games I think and I just want to carry on playing for this club.

“I want to be in the team and in order to do that I need to be in the best possible shape I can be in. I am feeling good and I am excited to see what this season brings. I am in a good mindset at the minute and I am ready to kick on. To end last season how we did, I think the team were in really good form and I just want that to continue really.

“I will keep fighting for my place and hopefully get as many minutes under my belt as possible. I think I am getting there,the back end of last season was the best I have felt for a long time. I just need to try and maintain that and keep getting better. My aims for this this year are to try and cement a place in the team and help us do good things. Pre-season is massive for everyone, there is a lot of competition there and we will see but I am feeling good and hopefully can try and keep my place.”

Flanagan was unable to dislodge captain James Tavernier from his preferred berth on the right but competed with Borna Barisic and Andy Halliday for a left-back spot. His committed approach to the game has made him popular with many supporters and the former Liverpool defender won’t change his style next term.

Flanagan told RangersTV: “Tackling is part of my game, full blooded tackles are something I do and hopefully that can continue! A lot of the modern day full-backs are a lot more attacking but as a defender, and you could say I am old school, but my first job is to defend and try and keep as many clean sheets as possible.”