Steven Gerrard was full of praise for Ryan Jack after Rangers set up a Europa League third qualifying round clash with Maribor with a 1-1 Ibrox draw against Croatian outfit Osijek.
Jack was making just his second start of 2018 but Gerrard expressed his admiration for the 26-year-old’s performance in the midfield role the Liverpool icon used to operate in.
He said: “This is a kid who missed six months at the back end of last season. I am delighted with Ryan’s performance.
“I’ve got a good type on my hands there. He’s a player who cares, who wants to win and is prepared to go out and do exactly what you’ve asked of him.
“I think he made one minor mistake during 90 minutes in a big football match. As a midfielder, I was jealous of Ryan’s performance tonight.”
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Such high praise from one of the game’s great midfielders underlines the ability that Jack has and how, if he can return to full fitness after the knee injury that kept him out of the latter part of last season.
The Scottish international is a boyhood Rangers fan and showed how much the club means to him by making the switch from this Sunday’s opponents Aberdeen at the start of last season.
If Jack can follow up his dominant European performance with an impressive display at the home of his former club, the midfielder would underline his importance to the Gers cause.
After a false start last season, Gerrard’s comments prove that his campaign could see Jack’s Rangers career finally begin in earnest this time around.