Jon Flanagan had an up and down first season with Rangers.
When Steven Gerrard picked the 26-year-old up on a free from Liverpool last summer, it looked a steal.
However, plagued by injuries over recent seasons, the former Premier League star struggled to get going at Ibrox.
The manager was patient, giving him chance after chance at left-back.
Yet, Flanagan looked awkward in possession, hesitant and just generally bereft of confidence. The fans weren’t impressed and eventually, it cost him his place in the side.
After the winter break, he was so far down the pecking order that it looked like his stint in Glasgow would come to a premature end. However, late in the day, an injury to Borna Barisic and suspension for Andy Halliday offered him a chance in April.
Seemingly a different player with his confidence restored, he held onto the shirt until the end of the season, as Stevie G’s side put together a strong run of form.
MORE RANGERS STORIES
Such was his impact that it appears he still has the shirt. Gerrard picked Flanagan at right-back for Saturday’s bounce game against Mansfield Town in Portugal.
His late-season surge in form and tough tackling approach saw his popularity surge with the Ibrox faithful, too.
Therefore, when he posted a photo from the training camp on his Twitter account, praise flooded in. Plenty of fans thought he had lost weight and was looking in prime condition for the new season.
Here’s a selection of reactions:
https://twitter.com/Halfwaybear/status/1145270405105684482
https://twitter.com/Chr1sMcLaughlin/status/1145077831266967553
https://twitter.com/chrissyf89/status/1145080400974401539
https://twitter.com/elviskenney/status/1145077819036327936
https://twitter.com/benlochhead/status/1145091490470907904
https://twitter.com/kelapakelapaku/status/1145259385083453440
