Jon Flanagan insists Rangers will make their fans proud when group-stage action returns to Ibrox for the first time in eight years.

The Light Blues have not hosted a home match in the round-robin phase of a UEFA competition since their Champions League showdown with Manchester United back in November 2010.

But that wait will come to an end on Thursday night when Europa League rivals Rapid Vienna visit Glasgow.

Flanagan knows the Ibrox faithful have had to endure their fair share of hardship in the time that has passed since their last significant European adventure.

But that is why Steven Gerrard’s side will be out to make sure they enjoy their return to continental competition, according to the former Liverpool full-back.

Flanagan said: “It’s massive that we give the supporters a performance to be proud of.

“This club deserves to be in Europe and staging big games.

“The fans have waited a long time for group-stage football and we want to repay them with a good performance.

“The manager has installed belief in us and the lads are taking it day by day in training. But we are all believing and we believe that we can get a good result against Rapid Vienna.”

Rangers slipped up at Livingston on Sunday and are now eight points behind early pace-setters Hearts.

But Flanagan, who sat out the 2-2 draw with Villarreal after being sent off against Ufa, said: “This game is coming at the right time for us. The games are coming thick and fast and we want to put Sunday behind us. We have to learn from it and bounce back.

“We can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves. We can’t afford to dwell on it. We’ve just got to put it to the side and move on. But we have to learn from it and correct those mistakes the next time out.”