ALLY DAWSON reckons Rangers will get the best years of Danny Wilson's career if they can finally sort out a deal to bring back the former Hearts captain for a second spell.
It is understood negotiations will intensify in the next two days to strike an agreement with the 23-year-old, who came through the Murray Park youth system into the top team before moving to Liverpool for £2million in 2010.
Wilson has had offers from England since leaving Tynecastle as a free agent last month and new Rangers manager Mark Warburton faces some stiff competition to strike a deal.
But former Ibrox captain Dawson - who played a large part in Wilson's development - is really excited about Wilson's return even if others believe he is taking a backward step.
Dawson said: "Sometimes returning to a former club is not the right thing to do - and I think that has been shown with more senior players.
"But I think Danny is young enough and he is coming back to Rangers having learned a lot from his experiences and he is also a much more confident player. He can definitely make a big impact.
"I think he will get better and better as a player and Rangers will get his best years."
Dawson, who skippered Rangers in the early 1980s, helped groom Wilson when he came under his wing at Murray Park and he had no doubt he would be a top star.
The move to Liverpool may not have worked out as his career stalled with loan spells but two full seasons with Hearts have solidified Wilson's stature.
He said: "When you are working with 14-year-olds you are looking for the ones have that real desire to succeed - something extra about them - and Danny had that.
"The majority in the group had the ability but there were only one or two who had the desire to make it.
"You can make it in football through good coaching and a little bit of luck but mostly it's down to the individual and how much he wants it.
"If things had been different at Rangers at the time he might not have needed to leave for Liverpool.
"I had a similar situation when I was just breaking through at Rangers when Leeds United were interested in me.
"Leeds were one off the bigger clubs in England at the time and they came calling butt there was only one choice for me and I wanted to stay at Ibrox.
"Things have changed a lot since these days - II didn't have an agent that's for sure.
"I'm sure Danny and his agent must have thought going to Liverpool was the right thing.
"It didn't work out but he has recovered from it and he has the character to continue to grow. He has a steely determination.
"II think the fact that Davie Weir is back at the club is appealing to Danny but it's probably the fact that stability has returned to the club in all aspects.
"The new directors are gaining the trust of the supporters and in turn the new management team are endeavouring to do the same."
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