THE journey from the Third Division to the Europa League has been a long, difficult and painful one for Rangers.

For Jon Flanagan, the road to recovery has been equally as fraught at times but now he, and the Light Blues, are within sight of an important marker post both individually and collectively.

Rangers, of course, have not had their troubles to seek – on or off the park - in recent years but the appointment of Steven Gerrard has seemingly put them on the right path once again. If that progress is to continue, Gerrard cannot afford to suffer his first setback as manager in Ufa this evening.

A narrow defeat could be enough and a draw will do but it is a victory that Rangers have made the trip to Russia seeking as they attempt to qualify for the Europa League group stages.

The lure of European football was one of the reasons that Flanagan made the move to Ibrox this summer to pen a two-year deal and be reunited with his former Liverpool team-mate.

It is about the kudos as much as the cash for Rangers after a period in the wilderness on the continent and the embarrassment of their early exit against Progres Niederkorn last term.

The Neftyanik Stadium isn’t exactly the arena that players dream about starring in, but it could be the place where Rangers’ European ambitions are finally realised once again.

“We all know how big this game is and when Stevie signed he said he wanted to secure European football,” Flanagan said. “We are one game away now so hopefully the lads can come together for one big push to get it over the line.

“When I spoke to Stevie before I signed he had the idea of European football. Along with all the other signings, he had the same conversation. We are all together as one and we want to be in this European competition.

“You can’t beat a European night during the week, those nights are fantastic and you travel all over the world.

“I have been lucky to have travelled far and wide with Liverpool so I know what it is about how big the competition is. To be one game away from it to secure it, it is massive and we need to win.

“Rangers are a massive club and that is where we should be so for us to be in a position where we are one game away from securing that, it has got to be one last big push.”

The schedule has been physically demanding and mentally draining for Gerrard and his players in recent weeks but there is a determination to ensure the eighth qualifier of the campaign isn’t their final European action this term.

Shkupi, Osijek and Maribor have been overcome so far and Rangers have made the journey to Russia with a one goal advantage to their credit after a narrow first leg win at Ibrox.

The fixture list has been far from ideal but Flanagan has relished the chance and the challenge in his first months north of the border as he has become an integral part of Gerrard’s plans.

The defender saw his career stall as he spent a lengthy spell out of action but now he is back involved regularly and eager to showcase his talents once again.

“I knew it was a massive club,” Flanagan said. “I spoke to the manager and a lot of people around it before coming in.

“When you do join, you realise the full size of it. I am really enjoying it. Hopefully, I can keep playing, keep winning and keep progressing.

“Over the last three years I haven’t played consistent football. It has been a bit in and out. So for me to get consistent games is fantastic. Hopefully, that can continue.

“I’m getting closer to where I can be. I think it is coming. I still have plenty more to give and I wouldn’t say I was 100 per cent yet. Hopefully, with the more game time I get, I can finally get back there.

“I am full-back and I am more comfortable on the right. But I just want to be playing. If it is on the left, the right or as part of a three, I will do a job for the team wherever I am needed.

“It was tough [being injured]. I think I was out for 18 months and then had other little injuries after that.

“But I feel I am mentally strong. I know how tough it is, but to come through it and be at the stage I am at now means I am in a good place.”

Boss Gerrard has spoken glowingly about the qualities that Flanagan brings to his side since he completed his switch from Liverpool during the Gers’ pre-season training camp in Spain.

He has already shown his versatility by impressing on the right and left of a back four but he was switched to a different role as Gerrard opted for a central three against Motherwell on Sunday.

It was a switch that had mixed results as Rangers dropped crucial Premiership points thanks to Peter Hartley’s equaliser at the end of a six-goal thriller.

A repeat of that defensive performance this evening would jeopardise their Europa League aims but Flanagan is confident it can be put down to a blip rather than a more serious problem.

“We have looked back and analysed it and they were three sloppy goals, let’s not get away from that,” he said.

“We can’t be giving goals like that away but we have tighten up, we have worked on it in training. We just need to tighten up and become one and not concede like that again.

“Until now we have been pretty solid overall this year, if you take Motherwell out of it. We have only conceded three goals in all competitions before that. It is a blip but we have looked at it and hopefully we will improve.

“Our last three away games in Europe have been pretty solid and we haven’t conceded one. Hopefully it is the same and it has got to be the same as those three performances.

“If we get a goal it is going to be difficult for them. If we defend like we have defended in the past three away games in Europe then it will be the same.

“A goal for us would be massive but not letting them score is the key.”