STEVEN DAVIS has backed midfield protege Stephen Kelly to go from strength to strength with Rangers in the coming years.

The Scotland youth internationalist has earned a place in the first team squad at Ibrox this term after impressing on loan spells with Ayr United and Ross County in recent seasons.

Kelly faces stiff competition for a starting spot after Gerrard added John Lundstram and Juninho Bacuna to his midfield ranks for Rangers' Premiership title defence and Europa League campaign.

But Davis has been impressed with the way the 21-year-old has handled himself since joining up with the Light Blues earlier this summer.

Davis said: "A lot of the young lads have been in and around and training with us for a period of time now.

"Stephen went out and got some valuable experience last year, which has done him the world of good. He has come back in pre-season and been very good since the first day.

"I really like Stevie as a player, he is very comfortable on the ball and in any situation and I think he has got a big career ahead of him.

"He has to just keep doing what he’s doing and wait for those opportunities whenever they come and then grab them."