ALL HODS that’s made him flexible star for club and country
knew that if I was to have any chance of making the squad for the Euros, I had to be playing games – and I did that by going out on loan to Kilmarnock.
“I just wanted to give myself the best chance.
“If if I didn’t make it then I’d have been disappointed – but at least I’d have known that I had given it my best shot.
“It was a dream to go to France and then it was the icing on the cake to sign for a massive club like Rangers.”
Now that Hodson is consistently in O’Neill’s thoughts, he has to cement a place in his side by performing well at Ibrox.
When former boss Mark Warburton signed him, a few eyebrows were raised with MK Dons happy to move him on.
But in his time at Rangers so far, he hasn’t let anyone down when called on if either Tavernier or Wallace have been unavailable.
He’d love to play a bigger part in Caixinha’s new-look side this term and ensure that he’s in the reckoning for Northern Ireland next summer.
He said: “Michael hasn’t told me that I need to play a certain number of games for Rangers to stay in the team.
“Obviously he would like his players to be featuring every week for their clubs to know that they’re match fit.
“But it’s up to the players to make sure we keep ourselves in shape if we aren’t involved every week.
“Northern Ireland does not have as big a selection pool as other countries in Europe.
“But Michael knows we can all go in and do a job for him so that gives us confidence as players.
“We don’t now go into games hoping to get a result.
“We go in believing we can. I think that has shone through in the last couple of years.
“On a personal level, it helps that I can play on both sides of the defence, for Rangers or Northern Ireland. That was probably one of the reasons I got to the Euro finals especially after Chris Brunt got injured.
“Both of my managers know that I’m there if needed and can give them something to think about.
“When the gaf fer here was bringing in new players this summer, I didn’t even think about my own situation.
“I’m just trying to improve as a player at Rangers, work really hard and then it’s up to the manager whether I play or not.
“I always stay posi - tive and I believe in myself at Rangers. Hopefully I’ll play as many games as possible this season.”
Hodson, l ike ever y other Rangers defender this season, has been boosted by the arrival of Euro 2016 winner Bruno Alves.
The Portuguese centre-back has already made an impact at Ibrox with his leadership qualities and experience.
He also scored the stunning free-kick that began the 6- 0 rout of Dunfermline in midweek.
Hodson is adamant that the younger players in Caixinha’s squad all look up to Alves.
He said: “Bruno is a top-class player who has played at the highest level. He won the Euros and has lifted other trophies abroad. He’s a winner. “And that’s what all the players at Rangers now want to achieve. “His experience will be great for us and we all look up to people like him. He can help the younger boys around him and has given everyone at the club a big lift.”