JORDAN JONES admits his mental strength has been tested to the limit during the darkest days of his Rangers career.
But now the 25-year-old hopes there is light at the end of the tunnel as he looks to play his part for Steven Gerrard's side this term.
Jones endured a frustrating debut campaign at Ibrox after his move from Kilmarnock and found chances hard to come by following the injury he sustained in the Old Firm defeat to Celtic.
Boss Gerrard handed him a rare start for the Premiership clash with Motherwell on Sunday and Jones made the most of his chance to impress as he scored the second goal in a 5-1 victory.
That could prove to be the turning point for the Northern Ireland international as he strives to prove that he can be part of Gerrard's plans beyond the end of the transfer window next month.
Jones said: "I hope [I still have a part to play]. Everyone knows how much I want to be here, hopefully I have showed that as well today. We have just got to see what happens.
"You train every day and hope that something is going to change but, like I say, you can’t sit and complain when the team is performing as it is and picking up points as it is.
"You literally have to keep as ready as you can be and hope that something is going to change so that when you do get your chance you can take it.
"Probably, yeah, if I am being honest [there was a point I thought it wouldn't change for me]. Some weeks it is hard to see if you are ever going to get a chance again and if you can keep going.
"You have got to be mentally strong and I feel that I am a lot better at things like that now and being mentally strong and not going in moods and sulking around the place.
"You are at a massive club and you have got to be grateful for the opportunity when you do get it. And when you do, you have got to make the most of it."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel