Ryan Jack will help Rangers defence, says Richard Foster

Richard Foster (far left) and Ryan Jack (far right) were team-mates at Pittodrie

Richard Foster believes Ryan Jack will offer the Rangers defence the protection they lacked last season.

Midfielder Jack, 25, has joined Rangers on a three-year deal under freedom of contract after leaving Aberdeen.

St Johnstone defender Foster, 31, was previously a team-mate of Jack's at Pittodrie.

"He's very much underrated," Foster told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. "He loves tackling, he loves winning the ball."

Rangers, who were promoted last year and finished third in the 2016-17 Scottish Premiership, kept 12 clean sheets in the top flight, compared with the Dons' 15.

They have already signed 35-year-old Portuguese defender Bruno Alves for next season.

Jack (right) made more than 200 appearances for the Dons

Jack came through the Dons' youth ranks and made his debut in 2010, becoming captain five years later.

"He's a good signing for Rangers," said Foster, who was loaned to Rangers from Aberdeen for the 2010-11 season and then returned to Ibrox for a two-year spell in 2013.

"He was asked to do the defensive role in the Aberdeen team, which I think he did really well, but I think he does have more quality on the ball when needed."

Central midfielders Jon Toral and Emerson Hyndman have returned to Arsenal and Bournemouth respectively after their loan spells with Rangers.

"What Rangers lacked last season - they had technically decent enough players, Toral, Hyndman, that played latterly - in centre midfield but didn't have someone who will win the ball back, who will occupy a position that takes a bit of the pressure off the centre-backs," added Foster.

"Their full-backs like to play high. There was a lot of pressure last year on the Rangers centre-halves and I think a lot of the time they were unfairly criticised because they got no protection from either the sides or in front of them.

"I think Ryan Jack is a player who will definitely offer that and I think he's got a lot to offer going forward as well."