Derek McInnes believes his former Aberdeen skipper Ryan Jack would "improve any team" and is Rangers' best midfielder.
The Dons boss delivered a ringing endorsement of the 27-year-old ahead of his return to Pittodrie for a crucial Premiership clash on Wednesday night.
Jack made the switch from Aberdeen to Rangers in 2017 but has flourished under Steven Gerrard over the last year.
McInnes built his Dons side around Jack and, after a succession of starts for the national team last month, also backed him to become a huge influence for Scotland.
“Jacko is the sort of player that would make any team better and I have always felt that," McInnes said.
“I remember speaking to Ryan when Stevie went in to Ibrox and I thought he was their best midfielder. I said that to Stevie as well.
“He is the type of boy who makes the national team better and he makes Rangers better as well.
“We made a concerted effort when we came in to build the team around him and when Russell Anderson stepped down as captain after our first year we made him captain.
“I wanted to give him that added responsibility and he had our total trust playing on the edge a wee bit.
“There was talk that he was a bit more defensive minded for us but that was maybe down to us having a side with Niall McGinn, Johnny Hayes and Kenny McLean.
“There was Ryan Christie and Peter Pawlett as well, so there was more attacking options in the team then but when I see him now it’s no surprise that he’s flourishing playing alongside a lot of good players.
“The evidence is there from Stevie that when he does pick his best team Jacko is always in it and that is testament to the boy.”
