SCOTT ARFIELD has never been afraid of putting in the hard yards and ensuring that his talent is matched by his mentality and physicality to see him through the trials and tribulations of a campaign.
At 33, he has done his fair share of pre-season schedules. Under the guidance of a host of different bosses, Arfield has seen methods and results vary over the years.
His own approach has never shifted, though. The challenge is there to be faced and overcome and the midfielder is only too aware of what can be built from solid summer foundations.
Arfield returned to Auchenhowie on Monday as Rangers regrouped and Giovanni van Bronckhorst started putting his players through their paces ahead of the new campaign.
The Premiership title bid will begin before they know it. So, too, will the Champions League qualifiers as Rangers aim to kick on at home and abroad in the coming months.
The game has progressed since Arfield started out at Falkirk under the watchful eye of John Hughes but his mindset remains the same as he aims to be the best he can be every time he pulls on his boots.
“I was 17 when I did my first one," Arfield said. "This is now my 17th pre-season.
“My first one was under Yogi. I was a young kid and he brought all the Under-19s up to the first team to do the running.
“I was just a young naive boy, running about like a rabbit with all the first-team boys telling me to calm down. I took pride in that, knowing I was fit.
“I’ve always tried to be as fit as I possibly could. Predominantly throughout my whole career I’ve always been one of the top three or top five.
“So pre-season, I’ve never really dreaded it as much as other players. I’ve always been quite good at pre-season.
“It’s a special time but as it goes on you see different aspects coming on. We’ve got a European coach here now and predominantly it’s all about the ball, being football fit.
“British coaches or Scottish coach like Yogi or (Sean) Dyche down the road. He had a day where it was all about running and trying to break you mentally, which I loved.
“If I become a manager I’ll definitely put that into my style because you see a different side to the players when you put demands no them to run and to see if you can break them, because it’s a long season."
Van Bronckhorst would arrive at Ibrox midway through what turned into a remarkable term for Rangers as the Europa League slipped through their fingers and the Scottish Cup was held aloft.
The hectic schedule put heavy demands on the Dutchman's staff and players. For the first time, Van Bronckhorst has the chance to put in the hours on the training field as he implements his blueprint for a season that offers plenty of opportunities for Rangers.
Arfield signed a new deal in early May that saw him commit himself to Rangers for another twelve months. On and off the park, he will have a key role to play for Van Bronckhorst's side.
“It is," Arfield said when asked if Van Bronckhorst's pre-season schedule is different to what he had experienced before. "As a player he’s been round the world so he’s cultured in his playing style and his management.
“I can only imagine how hard it is to come in half way through a season [as a manager]. I know how hard it is as a player.
"He’s had to come in with his own staff, his own ideas. But pre-season is a time when you can implement that as you’re together for longer and have less games to prepare for.
“So you can prepare and get your ideas across. We’ve already done two days here. It’s all about positions, receiving the ball, different ways to get on the ball.
“So he’s already working on that style, which he couldn’t have done back in January as we had so many games to play.
“On top of that there’s been a few runs in there which have been heavy on the legs.
“It’s been brilliant to get back into the routine. Hopefully this will set us up for another successful season."
It was a campaign of what might have been for Rangers in many ways as they gave up their Premiership title with an abject defence but created history and made memories with their exploits in Europe.
The effort required was remarkable as extra-time wins over Braga and Celtic were followed by that energy-sapping night in Seville and their triumph over two hours at Hampden.
Rangers showed their mental resolve as well as their physical conditioning. Through it all, they proved their collective will to win.
Arfield told RangersTV: "Everybody was talking about that towards the end of last season with the extra-times and European games and, although we didn’t win it, when it went to penalties in Seville.
"I think you just do what the game demands. I know it is quite difficult for people to see that or understand that, but when you have got that base and you have got people who want to run and work for each other, it comes quite naturally.
"In three out of four of those games, we got the result that we needed and everyone talks about it in a positive light.It has been commented how much we like each other and love each other and want to play for each other.
"It comes naturally when you want to help your team-mate and run a wee bit further for each other. It has been good and the first days here have been good as well."
