STEVEN GERRARD always rated Steven Davis highly as a player. Now he can appreciate him as a person as well.

The Northern Irishman will make his 300th appearance for Rangers when Gerrard's side face Motherwell on Sunday.

His form this term has been exemplary once again as he continues to lead by example on and off the park at Ibrox.

And boss Gerrard is delighted to have Davis as part of his squad as the 36-year-old looks to play his part in clinching the Premiership title in the coming weeks.

"In certain ways, yes, but as a footballer, no," Gerrard said when asked if Davis had surpassed his expectations in terms of his influence at Ibrox.

"He’s someone who I had competed against more than enough. He’s someone who I had watched for many years before I got the opportunity to work closer with him.

READ: Dean Shiels details the class of the player and the qualities of the person as Ibrox hero Steven Davis reaches 300 Rangers appearances

"I knew he was a top professional, a competitor and a wonderful footballer. But when you work with someone on a daily basis and see how they go about their routine, you see the focus, how low maintenance they are, and the sacrifices they make to be the best version of themselves.

"Steven is really at the forefront of that. So in many ways he has surprised me, but not as a footballer or in the level I know he can play at. I knew that first-hand from competing against him."