STEVEN GERRARD is confident Rangers can strike the right balance with midfielder Ryan Jack to ensure he is able to perform for club and country this season.
Jack hasn't featured for the Light Blues since the win over Aberdeen in November but has now returned to full group training as he continues his recovery from a persistent knee injury.
The Scotland internationalist is an invaluable member of Gerrard's side and seems destined to be in the squad that Steve Clarke names for the European Championship finals at the end of the campaign.
That ambition will rely on him finishing the season in fine form and full fitness at Ibrox and Gerrard will carefully consider his workload and use Jack wisely to help him hit the heights once again.
Gerrard said: "We have always tried to monitor the load of all the players and players are all different in different ways. Some players are very robust and can churn out games no problem and they recover really quickly.
READ: Steven Gerrard provides injury update on three key men as midfielder steps up Rangers recovery
"Some players need a little bit more attention in terms of recovery and offloading at the right times. Jacko is a difficult one because he is so important, he is a player that we rate very much and I don’t think I have to go on record to tell you guys what I think of him and what we think of him because I have done it so many times.
"His consistency levels have been superb. It is a difficult one because you want him in the team as much as possible and he wants to be in the team as much as possible.
"It is something we have spoken to Ryan about, it is something we have had conversations with Steve Clarke about and the reality is that Ryan does need looking after differently to some other players.
"It is something we will keep an eye on and try and make him available as much as we can because he is so important to both club and country, especially at this stage."
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