PEDRO CAIXINHA says he has already earmarked a slot in his Rangers midfield for Jordan Rossiter next season.
The former Liverpool youngster was signed by departed Ibrox boss Mark Warburton last summer.
But his first campaign in Glasgow had barely started before it was over as he was struck down by a nine-month injury nightmare.
The 20-year-old England youth international has not been seen in blue since the end of August following recurring back, hamstring and calf issues.
However, the Ibrox medical team believe they have finally got to the bottom of his woes.
Rossiter was able to rejoin his Gers team-mates for light training on Monday morning and now Caixinha is keen to make him a central part of his team when they kick off their Europa League qualifiers next month.
The Gers boss said: “Jordan has just started training again with the first elements of the session.
“He is clean. The imbalances are gone.
“It’s something for him to return to and have the confidence levels to be with the other guys.
“One entire season just seeing our physio Stevie Walker in front of him is not very pleasant but now he is returning with us and I hope he can start the season with us as well.
“Now that he’s back with the other players, even if it is only light work, it allows him to get the confidence levels, the rhythm and to be able to return to us for pre-season on June 5.
“He’s a good player so we are counting on him for next season.
“It will be like a new signing. With Jordan, Niko Kranjcar and even Lee Wallace, who has only played a couple of matches with us, we will restart the next season totally clean, which means it’s like new players are coming in.”
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