WHEN the Premiership match against Rangers at the FOY Stadium kicks off today Lee Hodson will be trying his hardest to help Hamilton get a result that increases their chances of top flight survival.

The Northern Ireland internationalist is determined to help Brian Rice’s side, languishing in bottom spot in the league table, prove their doubters wrong once again and avoid relegation.

But the defender, who spent two eventful seasons at Ibrox, is hoping that after today Steven Gerrard’s side can go on an extended winning run and wrap up the Scottish title quickly.

He has been pleased to see his former club do so well this term after years or turmoil and failure – and delighted for his fellow full-back James Tavernier in particular.

Hodson believes that Tavernier, who is in the running to be named Scotland’s Footballer of the Year, has become a stronger person and a player as a result of the many setbacks Rangers have suffered over the years and is in the form of his life.

“I still get on with Tav really well,” he said. “He's a great lad. It didn't surprise me when he got the captaincy there because he's a big character in the dressing-room.

“For the younger lads coming through, they'll look up to Tav. But they have a lot of experience in that squad now which is fantastic for the younger players.

“Tav has been a brilliant servant and this season he's contributed a lot with goals and assists from right-back. I used to see him doing that every day in training.

“Tav suffered some low moments at Rangers, but you'll get that at any club. People say you get more lows than highs in football – it's about how you deal with it.

“They make you a stronger player, a stronger person. They build your character. There will always be disappointments but it's about how you bounce back.

“It shows the character Tav has that he's done that. Listen, no-one likes to lose games but they don't define you as a player because there is always a next game.

“Those disappointments can help you reach the highs and Tav has shown great character at Rangers.”

Hodson left Rangers for English League One club Gillingham on a free transfer in 2019 – but he could tell that Gerrard was posed to bring success to Ibrox.  

“It was only a matter of time before this happened,” he said. “They brought Steven in to do it and he's done very well.

“With the players they've recruited, they're strengthening all the time. So it doesn't surprise me what's happened this season.

“People expect when a new manager comes in for it to happen overnight. But sometimes it doesn't Sometimes it can take six months, a year, before things start gelling together.

“When you get new people in the building, they need time to get it right. This season, it's started to click for Rangers and they've done extremely well.”

Hodson added: “It was a massive honour for me to play for a club like Rangers, with it's stature, history and fanbase

“It might not have been the most successful spell because we didn't manage to win a trophy. But it's a time in my career that I'll always look back on and cherish.

“I was honoured to play for such a great club and they've come so far to get to where they are this season.

“It doesn't surprise me with the players, management and coaching staff they have there. I was grateful to be a Rangers player for the time I was there.”

Hodson, though, is a Hamilton player now and his only focus is on helping the Lanarkshire club stay up. He is confident, despite a painful 2-1 defeat to Ross County at home on Wednesday night, they can do so.  

“This league itself is a battle,” he said. “We know where we are in the table and we need some wins to get up the table. The only pressure comes from ourselves, in terms of what we put on each other.

“We all believe we can turn this around and get out of it. A run of three or four wins and this table changes so quickly. We're a bit behind but a few wins on the bounce and we'll be back in the mix again.

“We're only at the start of February so we have plenty of time. All the lads believe we're capable of those wins. We're always underdogs at Hamilton and that's fine. It gives us a bit more fire in the belly for this battle. We're in a difficult position but there's a good togetherness here around the squad and coaching staff.”