Ryan Kent has already marked himself down as a winner. Now the Rangers ace also wants to develop further into an Ibrox leader.
His outstanding progression in Glasgow was cemented by the collection of a cherished Premiership title medal at the end of last term.
The 24-year-old’s trickery and goals were a key component in Steven Gerrard ’s league-winning set-up. But Kent wants to be more than just a vital contributor.
The attacker wants to be a leader within the group as well, as the champions aim to defend their crown and also fight for a place in the group stage of the Champions League.
Kent told Rangers’ official souvenir magazine: “People probably only refer to leaders as the captain or the senior players in the team or whatnot.
“But, if I can be a leader in a different way with the ball at my feet or trying to win it back when we don’t have it, it’s important for me to do that.
“If I can show I want to get on the ball in any circumstance and I can work hard out of possession to regain it, I know that’s something that can help the team a lot.
“It (clean sheets) adds a lot of confidence to us forward players, the fact that we can go and express ourselves and we know we have got a solid backline behind us. But at this football club it is a team effort and defensively that starts from the front with the work and the desire to go and win the ball back from the forward players. It’s our job in defensive situations to protect the back four.”
Rangers started their pre-season campaign with a win over Partick Thistle on Monday and take the next step on their preparation schedule against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
Gerrard is building everything up to the beginning of the competitive action as his squad try to make another sharp start to the campaign.
Last term Rangers flew out of the traps and Kent’s winner on the opening day of the
term gave them a priceless win at Aberdeen.
Rangers had generated their momentum from a successful effort at a pre-season tournament in Lyon to illustrate the significance of detailed build-up work.
Kent said: “It is always important to go and start on the right foot. The manner in which we played and the result from that game (Aberdeen) was key to the way the season unfolded.
“But for myself, if you go back earlier in pre-season, you could tell that the level had gone up significantly. The fitness and the quality were there and to win the trophy at the competition over in France was important as well, as we knew that would stand us in good stead for the season.
“There was a lot going on outside the game but as soon as we came back in last summer, I think we needed to understand the winning mentality of football. That was the biggest thing.
“There were a lot of times when we played really well (in 2019-20) and came off the pitch with a draw or a loss and we couldn’t understand why.
“We’ve approached every game like it is a cup final and I think that switch in mentality is what won us the trophy.
“That was our only expectation as well, to win the league. We knew it was there for the taking. With the confidence and belief that was given to us by the coaching staff, we knew we could go and deliver it.
“We understood the circumstances of protecting Rangers’ legacy with nine in a row. We knew it had to happen.
“That was a non-negotiable – we had to go and lift that trophy. And everybody bought into the philosophies and the ethos and what was being demanded by the coaches.
“We understood what the club and the fans needed too. We’ve made a lot of sacrifices and made it happen so we can all be proud of that.”
Unfortunately for Rangers, they were unable to clinch the flag in front of a full stadium or celebrate properly with fans.
Kent said: “It was strange because a lot of the players wanted to go and win the title at their (Celtic) place.
“But as Celtic’s game at Dundee United progressed and it was getting closer to the final whistle, reality started to set in. We thought, ‘This is happening, we are about to win the league’.
“Everyone was overjoyed and emotional and you could see the smiles on people’s faces and what it meant to everybody. It’s disappointing that we couldn’t enjoy it with the supporters but for the team and the club to be able to celebrate after the St Mirren game was a moment I’ll never forget.
“We’ve been trying to achieve this since I got here and it has happened, something we are all very proud of.”
