SIX starts and just ten appearances from the bench last season.
Kieran Dowell is sure Rangers fans haven’t seen the best of him — because they have hardly seen him at all.
The 26-year-old injury-plagued midfielder endured a frustrating first season at Ibrox.
Now, having been given a new lease of life under gaffer Philippe Clement, he is determined to make up for lost time.
Dowell said: “I’d like to think there is more to come.
“I didn’t start many games last season.
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“I believe it was five or six games. There weren’t many subs appearances either.
“The fans have not seen the best of me — they have not seen much of me yet.
“Hopefully they can see that this coming season.”
Dowell was one of Michael Beale’s last signings when he arrived from Norwich last summer.
Injury stalled his start, and he was unable to nail down regular football as a result.
There were some very difficult days and a lot of soul searching.
Dowell added: “You end up suffering because of that.
“It happens, but you deal with it.
“You end up out of the team, and the only thing to do then is keep training and keep working hard.
“It was just so frustrating, and really tough.
“I was learning a new position as a central midfielder, which I hadn’t really played before. That was due to availability.
“But among all that there were also injuries, which was so frustrating.
“I’m feeling good now, though. I’m feeling fresh.
“I’ve had a good rest over the summer and I’m fighting fit.
“You can sulk about it all you want, but it’s happened. I’m past it and feeling strong again.
“Everyone at the club was great. The lads here are a good group to keep you humble.
“If you are getting ahead of yourself, they will put you down or they will keep you going if you are down. It’s a good group of lads for that.
“And my family and friends were a great help too.”
The arrival of his son, Artie, in January also helped lend perspective to Dowell’s situation.
He added: “It has been busy. I have a little boy, born in Glasgow, a little Rangers fan. He is only six-months-old.
“I have always been quite good at not taking things home.
“It is good to have Artie to switch off.
“We keep in touch when I am away like this.
“He doesn’t understand FaceTime, but my partner sends loads of pictures.”
Despite only playing a bit-part role, Dowell insists there was plenty to take from his first season at Ibrox.
He is adamant lessons have been learned too, with Clement and his players desperate to avoid a repeat of the heartache they felt at missing out on the league title to Celtic.
From seven points behind, Gers blew the chance to pull five clear heading into the final international break of the season before they then capitulated completely on their return.
Dowell said: “The biggest lesson is to realise we’re never out of it.
“With the start we had last year and losing the manager who signed me, everyone thinks it’s all over.
“You see the media and stuff and it seems like it’s done, but it certainly wasn’t.
“It was back in our hands by the end of the season, so you just never know when you’re out of it.
“Ideally, we want a fast start this time, but you are not out of it if that doesn’t happen.
“It was my first season and I was probably thinking, ‘We are off it here’, and we weren’t.
“You want a fast start, but it is a long season as well.”
Rangers are poised to strike a deal with the SFA that will see them start the season at Hampden.
But Dowell is confident that won’t affect the players.
He added: “There will be a lot of things that could have an impact, like not playing at Ibrox.
“That is not really an issue for us as players.
“Our fans make away games home games the way they are, so I don’t think that is going to be an issue at all.”
Dowell appeared as a second-half sub as Gers got their pre-season tour off to a goalless start against Standard Liege, with boss Clement handing debuts to Connor Barron, Clinton Nsiala and Jefte. Dowell said: “I always try to welcome the new lads to the club. I know everyone does, it’s a good group for that kind of thing.
“There’s a good few guys who have come in now, and it’s good to see everyone working hard on the pitch.
“We’ve had a short break, we’ve freshened up and the lads are focused again on getting right back at it.
“Every season is a massive season for this club, but hopefully we can do well.
“The manager has taught me a lot about learning new roles as a central midfielder.
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“He has added a few strings to my bow already, which is great.
“He wants you to play, he encourages you to try stuff. He is a really good manager.”
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