HE may be 38 now and unlikely to start ahead of Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and possibly even Cedric Itten in big games for Rangers during the 2020/21 season.

Yet, Jermain Defoe has shown in the matches that he has played for the Ibrox club this term that he still has much to contribute when he does get the nod from manager Steven Gerrard.

He netted his 300th goal in club football in a 2-0 triumph against Livingston in the Premiership in October – a sublime first-time strike after a James Tavernier long ball - and opened the scoring in their 4-0 win over Falkirk in the Betfred Cup on Sunday evening.

Defoe is sure, despite being behind Morelos, Roofe and Itten in the pecking order, to be used regularly in the months ahead if he can remain injury free.

But the former England striker, who has now netted three times in seven appearances this term, is contributing just as much off the park as he is on it for Rangers when he is not involved on match day.

Gerrard handed academy youngsters Ciaran Dickson and Leon King their debuts at the weekend and was impressed with how the midfielder and the defender handled the step up to the senior game.

It will, with the Glasgow club bidding to win the Scottish title and progress in the Europa League, be difficult for the duo to add to their appearances and feature more in the first team the months ahead.

But Defoe, speaking to Reece Mennie on the Mennie Talks Podcast, revealed that he has taken all the Rangers kids under his wing and is doing everything that he can to ensure they fulfil their massive potential.

“I am obviously one of the more senior players so I try to take care of the dressing room,” he said. “I know that at a big club like Rangers for young players coming in, it's not always easy to hit the ground running and there is a lot of pressure because you are expected to win every game. People say stadiums are empty, but you still have millions of people watching at home.

“I say to the players, especially the younger lads, just enjoy it. Don't waste a training session, every day just make sure you are on it in training first and foremost because that is where it starts. Just make sure you are on it and training and take that into the game.”

There could be few better role models for the Rangers youngsters that Defoe; his total dedication to his profession is renowned in the game and has enabled him to perform at the very highest level up front for both club and country for the past 20 years.

The former West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Bournemouth forward has stressed to the best prospects coming through at Auchenhowie that they must devote themselves to being the very best they can on a daily basis if they want to succeed.

“Just focus on your craft, always want to improve in every training session, just be that one that really wants to make it and get into the first team,” he said. “When I say not wasting a training session, I mean being honest with yourself as well, thinking ‘what do I need to improve on, what am I not good at’.

“Just be honest with yourself. If you're not fit enough, get fit. No one wants to run. Who wants to run after training when you're hurting? No-one wants to feel like that, but personally I crave that feeling, I want to feel like I've worked and I'm on my knees thinking if I've done this surely I'm going to get something out of it.

“So just wanting to do the extras, every day. Even when you're playing well, never get too high. Even when I scored the 300th goal, obviously enjoy it, but I went to training the next day thinking what's next? Never waste a training session. Always improve.”

Defoe has been delighted to see his former club Spurs make such a strong start to the new season under Jose Mourinho and believes the Premier League leaders are more than capable of winning the English title come May.

He feels Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, who have scored 24 goals between them since September, is currently the best forward line in the world game and has urged the Rangers youngsters to strive to emulate the duo.

“I always say to the youngsters at Rangers before games 'goals and assists',” he said. “Make sure you get your numbers up, because all people look at at the end of the season is ‘how many goals did he score and how many assists did he get’. In terms of numbers, there is no better partnership than Kane and Son.”

Defoe’s statistics are pretty impressive too. So much so, in fact, that he didn’t realise he had notched his 300th club goal when it came against Livingston.

“It is an amazing achievement,” he said. “I remember when I was at Tottenham years ago, maybe about 2005, seeing a picture of Teddy Sheringham on the wall, where he had just scored his 300th goal, where he lifted up his t-shirt. I just remember thinking: 'Wow! 300 goals! That is something special!'

“It's funny because leading up to the game, I knew that I was on 299, so I was desperate to do it. But just before the game I completely forgot. So as I scored, I forgot! It wasn't until after the game when everyone said: ‘JD, that was your 300th goal!. I said: 'Oh my God, I've just remembered it!'

“But in a way I'm glad I didn't remember before the game, because you get too keen and anxious, so I was relaxed and I did it, but when you reflect back on it you think 'wow'. It was a special moment for me and my family.”