JIM Bett today backed defensive midfielder Ryan Jack to provide a solution to a long-standing problem position for Rangers next season if he clinches a move to the Ibrox club during the summer.

Jack was unable to help Aberdeen beat Celtic in a nail-biting William Hill Scottish Cup final at Hampden on Saturday in what looks certain to be his final game for the Pittodrie club.

But the 25-year-old gave another glimpse of what the Gers will be getting if they succeed in securing his services with an outstanding display in the middle of the park alongside Kenny McLean and Graeme Shinnie.

The Glasgow club have often struggled in the Ladbrokes Premiership in the 2016/17 campaign due to the absence of a natural ball-winning player in front of their defence.

Joey Barton, Andy Halliday, Jason Holt, Emerson Hyndman, Jon Toral were all deployed their by Mark Warburton, Graeme Murty and Pedro Caixinha with varying degrees of success.

However, Jack, who was dubbed “the new Jim Bett” when he first broke through at his home town club seven years ago, would fill that void if he can agree terms with Rangers.

He was stripped of the Aberdeen captaincy last week amid mounting speculation that he is set to join their bitter rivals – and his name was booed by his own fans when it was read out before kick-off at the weekend.

Caixinha has admitted he is an admirer of the Scot, who is available for free, and has had him scouted since arriving in this country back in March.

Former Scotland midfielder Bett knows what it takes to succeed at Rangers having won the League Cup and the Scottish Cup and forced his way into the national team during a three year spell in Govan back in the 1980s.

He has no doubts that former Scotland Under-21 internationalist Jack can excel if he does end up at Ibrox in the coming weeks.

“I stay over in Iceland now, but I get back to Scotland regularly and have seen a lot of Ryan over the years,” he said. “He is the man who does the link-up play between the defence and the strikers. It is a role he performs very well.

“He is playing well at the minute and has finished another good season on a high by helping Aberdeen finish second and reach two cup finals.

“There has been a lot of talk about him joining Rangers and I can understand why given how influential he has been for Aberdeen in recent months.

“If he was to leave it would be a setback for Aberdeen because Derek McInnes had made him his captain. He would be a loss as a leader and as a player as well.

“Whether he goes to Rangers or not remains to be seen, but if that was to happen then I would expect him to do well.”

Bett added: “It is not an easy thing to go to a club like Rangers and succeed because of the six of the club and the expectations of the supporters at Ibrox.

“But he has been playing regularly for Aberdeen for several seasons and has also been their captain. I am sure he would cope with the demands there would be on him and feature in the side.

“There is a suggestion that Ryan was a supporter when he was younger and sometimes if a player has history with a club it can make a difference to his decision.

“I know Derek would like to keep him, but it can be difficult for a club like Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs to keep their best players – especially when a club like Rangers is looking at them.

“Derek has a difficult job and he has done well to bring in so many good players in key positions, but it is very difficult to hold onto these guys when bigger clubs come calling.

“I have heard Ryan has been called ‘the new Jim Bett’. I don’t know about that, but I do know that he is a fine player who has a bright future ahead of him whether he stays in Scotland, goes down to England or moves abroad.”

The 57-year-old, though, feels that Caixinha will have to sign several top quality players if he wants Rangers to challenge Celtic for the major honours in Scottish football again next season.

The former Santos Laguna and Al-Gharafa coach ensured that the Ibrox club finished third in the Premiership this season and secured a return to the Europa League.

But Bett feels that he will have to improve the quality of his squad significantly to and progress in continental competition and do better domestically.

“Rangers are in a bit of a state at the moment in general and it is no surprise their new coach is wanting to bring in his own signings and improve the quality of the side,” he said.

“But he will have to bring in far more than just Ryan to get Rangers back to where they have to be. From what I can see, he is short of quality at the minute and needs the backing of the board to change things. He needs to work hard to turn things around.”

Bett spent nine season at Aberdeen and was in the team when they last won the Scottish Cup way back in 1990 with a penalty shoot-out win over Celtic.

He was disappointed they failed to end their 27 barren run in the competition, but believes they can hold their heads up high.

“The players should be happy with how they went out and had a go,” he said. “Everyone knew how hard it would be for them playing against a side like Celtic with the players they have got in Glasgow.

“It is a terrible thing for them to have done so well during the course of the 90 minutes and then conceded a goal in injury-time. I can’t imagine how disappointed they must be feeling.

“But they can take pride in how they put on such a good show for all of their fans. Nothing is worse than reaching a final and failing perform

“There is a lot of confidence going through the team and that showed. If Jack does go to Rangers then he won’t be overawed by the prospect of playing there.”