Ex-Norwich City midfielder Kieran Dowell is back in from the cold at Rangers after his first league start since the opening weekend, in Wednesday's Scottish Premiership 2-0 win over 10-man St Johnstone.

Dowell was not interested in signing a new Carrow Road deal, after some impressive displays under David Wagner last season, and moved to Glasgow on a free transfer in the summer.

The 26-year-old started the opening game of the season, before a knee injury sidelined him, and then he fell out of favour under previous Ibrox chief Michael Beale.

Dowell admits it has been a game of patience prior to getting a rare chance under Philippe Clement.

The Scouser was an unused substitute for last Sunday’s Scottish League Cup win over Aberdeen but returned for a home win that cut Celtic’s lead at the top to two points, with Rangers having a game in hand.

“I've just had to be patient, we have obviously had some great results but I spoke with the gaffer and he said just keep being patient and you'll get the reward like I did,” said Dowell, speaking to his club’s official channels.

“We have got a great squad, and it is about the team at the end of the day, as long as we are winning that is all that matters so another three points tonight was brilliant.”

Clement hailed Dowell’s attitude since his recent arrival at Ibrox.

“Kieran is somebody who has been working really hard all this time,” he said. “There's a lot of competition in his best positions but he's going to play a little bit lower, a bit like the role Tom Lawrence played in against St Mirren.

"He's someone with good technical qualities who can be good on the ball, good passing play and that's what I expect from him, and of course winning the duals.

“It's every game looking to get some fresh players and legs in and for others that they can recover good and be ready for the next series of games.

"(Rotation) is necessary if you always play with the same 11 or 14 with 12 games in 37 days you will kill the players. They are not ready for that, they are also not trained for that. That's something for the future to work on and make them stronger.

"So it's always taking the next game into account and all the players are pushing so a few players get the chance to show what they've been doing in training in the spotlight.”