Rangers left-back Borna Barisic has admitted that he did consider leaving the club at the back end of last season after failing to establish himself in manager Steven Gerrard’s first-team plans.

The Croatian signed from NK Osijek in 2018 for £2m, and made 22 appearances last campaign, but he was not always first choice and struggled with niggling injuries. However, his second season has been far more successful with Barisic revealing that a change in mentality has helped him immensely:

“To be honest, I did think about leaving Rangers. It was the second half of last season around February, March. It was a hard time for me. I had a few injuries and I couldn’t really settle down.”

“That is normal when you keep getting injuries, you start to think maybe it is too much. When you play for Rangers it isn’t just about your physicality, the mental side is really important too.”

“I came from the Croatian league and it is completely different there. My mindset was different back then as well and I now feel I have the mentality that is needed to be a Rangers player.”

Barisic is now playing for a club that expects to win every week, and it seems the penny finally dropped for the 27-year-old after a heart to heart with Gerrard earlier this season.

Up until late September, the likes of Andy Halliday and Jon Flanagan were rotated with the Croatian international, but since then the left-back has been everpresent in the side.

Barisic has now racked up a hugely impressive eight assists in his 18 games for the Gers this campaign, and he will be hoping his good form continues over the coming months.