STEVEN DAVIS knew he needed a new challenge. He would return to old territory in search of silverware.

The Northern Irishman hasn't enjoyed such success for club and country without sacrifices and hard work along the way. Last season, like so many other times in his glittering career, it all paid off.

A decade after his last league flag with Rangers, Davis was a champion once again. Rangers had their 55th title and the midfielder had a medal that he had been dreaming of since returning from Southampton.

Glasgow Times: Steven Davis

There are few within the Ibrox squad that understands what that achievement means better than Davis. There are fewer who have had as important a role in making sure the prize was collected in May.

“I think that was a big factor me," Davis told the Rangers official souvenir magazine. "I had obviously gone through a bit of a frustrating time towards the end of my spell with Southampton.

“I wasn’t playing as much as I would have wished. I wanted a new challenge and I knew coming back to Ibrox would give me that and also give me a chance to win trophies again.

“It was a big draw for me to come back to the club for obvious reasons, being a Rangers supporter.

“I wanted to be part of bringing success back to the club after the hurt that everyone has been through.

“I think it was a big sacrifice for myself and my family because I have spent a lot of time away from them. I wouldn’t have chosen to do that for any other club.

“But I just had such a determination to come back and have an impact and try and bring success back to the club.

“For me personally, it was a huge moment when we won the league and it was one I had dreamed about for a long time.

“It’s up there as one of the most special moments of my career. It has been a long wait for it but it was the best feeling in the world.

“It is why we play the game, for these memories and these moments. You have to enjoy them when they come along so I was absolutely buzzing when it did.

“The manner in which we won the league and the style of football that we have played have made this a thoroughly enjoyable league campaign.”

Davis would lead by example on and off the park throughout an exemplary campaign and his efforts were rewarded with individual accolades as well as team titles.

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Steven Gerrard's side clinched an unbeaten Premiership term with victory over Aberdeen before they finally got their hands on the silverware than had been won several weeks earlier.

Every fixture was crucial to the cause but Davis knows that some are more important than others and three wins against Celtic would serve to emphasise Rangers' dominance over the course of the season.

Davis said: “Obviously the Old Firm games played a part and I think the first derby win of the season in October was a big moment for us.

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“It came off the back of an international break and a lot of the boys had been away so we had only been back in for one or two days of training.

“It was also an early kick-off, so there were a lot of factors going into that game but we dealt with the occasion really well.

“It was an assured performance and, in the end, it was quite a comfortable victory. We enjoyed the day and it was important to build from there.

Glasgow Times: Steven Davis

“In any season you have to show a level of consistency to give yourself a chance to be successful.

“That is something we managed to do very well and the run up to the home New Year derby on January 2 was massive for us.

“In all honesty, I don’t think we performed on the day against Celtic, but we managed to get a little bit of luck and get the victory. Again, that was a huge moment for us."