ALEX RAE is confident Ryan Jack will continue to be a key man for club and country for years to come and maintain the finest form of his career to date.
The Rangers midfielder has emerged as a mainstay of Steve Clarke's Scotland setup in recent months and helped the national side reach the European Championship finals with victory over Serbia last week.
Jack has now returned to Ibrox ahead of a crucial run of Premiership and Europa League fixtures as Steven Gerrard's side set their sights on silverware success this term.
The 28-year-old will have a major part to play and former Gers hero Rae has no doubt that Jack will keep improving under the guidance of his Light Blues boss.
Rae told Herald and Times Sport: "If you look at it when Steven came in and look at where Ryan is now, you have to give everyone credit. He has gone on to establish himself as a full international, he looks very assured.
"It is a development over the two years, that has not just happened overnight. Steven has said that he likes what he sees and that as long as he is there then Ryan will be about the place.
"He clearly sees good traits in him working with him on a daily basis and he is performing at a very high level right now.
"You talk about club and country and I thought last week against Serbia he was outstanding alongside Callum McGregor.
"A couple of years ago, you were looking at McGregor and he was flying and now you are mentioning those two in the same breath.
"If you look at the Old Firm games, the last three or four Rangers have dominated the middle of the park and Ryan has been important to that.
"Scotland wise it is a credit to Ryan because he got a bit of abuse up at Aberdeen and he could have let his head go down.
"But he hasn’t, he has dug in and become one of the main players. I thought the two central players were sensational against Serbia."
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