Ben Davies had to put down roots in a new city but did not have the challenges of culture and climate to contend with. Two years on, he feels more settled than ever at Rangers. He is content off the park and, he hopes, soon in a better place on it.

Davies became no stranger to new environments and new faces during several loan moves that saw him travel up and down the country and the leagues in search of the experiences that would shape him as a defender and a man during his formative years. He established himself at Preston North End and earned a move to Liverpool. After a season with Sheffield United, he was a £3million acquisition for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The Englishman admits himself that the subsequent seasons have not gone to plan. So much of the silverware that was sought was missed out on and he is now working for his third manager after Philippe Clement replaced Michael Beale in the dugout. That constant state of flux is not conducive to success at any level and Rangers are in the midst of another rebuild this summer.

Davies continued his preparations for the campaign with an outing in the defeat to Ajax on Saturday. Over the course of the trip to Holland, Clement has given debuts to Liam Kelly, Clinton Nsiala, Jefte and Connor Barron, while Oscar Cortes has re-joined the squad. Next week, Hamza Igamane will come into the group for the first time.

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Each player that has been signed this summer or put pen-to-paper in recent seasons will be cognisant of the stature of the club and the size of the support. Davies does not want that pressure or burden to be eased, but he knows that it can take time to adjust to.

“I think coming away on training camp, it is good to get the work in, but it is also good to be together the whole time,” Davies says as he reflects on a trip that also included a friendly with Standard Liege. “You get to learn about the new players and the friends that you have made over, for me, the last two years. You feel comfy around them now. We are all in it together and we are pushing for the best.

“I think it can easily take [two years]. I am coming from England, you already speak the language and know about the club. You have got other players that don’t speak the language, that are coming to a completely different country.

“I am not saying that I haven’t felt settled over the last two years, but I think the longer you are here… The more you move about, it gets a bit bitty, you know what I mean? When you feel settled, you feel more comfy full stop.

"If I am getting like that, then when you have got people that don’t speak the language that are coming to this massive club with all the expectations, and the last few years haven’t gone ideally, to say the least, then yeah it can take them time to settle. Everyone is different.”

The time on the continent has been encouraging for Davies and the importance of this summer schedule cannot be understated for the stopper. Coming off the back of a campaign that saw him make just 17 appearances, he knows full well that he needs to hit the ground running this term.

Clement addressed that lack of game time on a couple of occasions with Davies. As the Ibrox injury curse gripped the squad, Clement’s options were limited. Even when Davies was fit, the need to rotate elsewhere to keep other areas of the team fresh limited his opportunities.

Rangers have matches with Manchester United, Birmingham City and Union Berlin before they begin their title bid at Tynecastle. Individual and collective levels must now rise if Rangers are to head into the new season with any sort of momentum behind them.

“It was only a short summer, which probably suits me in terms of getting back up to speed,” Davies says. “It was only four weeks. Getting back into the rhythm is important. I want a full pre-season this year.

“The last couple of years it has been a bit up and down in terms of getting going. I think once I get going I stay pretty fit, as a rule. I am really focusing on the recovery, my work and just trying to get the full pre-season and getting myself in a fit position to start the season.

“We are only about halfway through pre-season so we are definitely still building towards that fitness and sharpness and concentration and things like that. On a personal level, and there are probably five or six lads similar to me, we are really concentrating on making sure they complete pre-season.

“If everyone has that mindset and can get through and be strong and fit to start the season then the manager has as full a squad to pick from as possible. That is a better position than last season for me personally.”

The run-out against Ajax was a useful exercise for Rangers. A Tom Lawrence free-kick proved to only be a consolation but there were positives to take in the performances of Kelly and Barron in particular. Ultimately, though, Clement’s side remain well short of where they need to be.

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The ongoing issues around the redevelopment work at Ibrox and move to Hampden have cast a dark cloud over the support in recent weeks. Six players have come in and six have departed but much more needs done before predictions of title challenges can be made.

Clement addressed the mood outside his squad when he sat down for an in-depth interview at the team hotel last week. The Belgian will look to shield his players from the negativity. The only way to change the feeling, however, is to win matches and win trophies.

“Personally, I don’t pay attention to what everyone is saying, you can’t afford to because I know it can be ruthless at times,” Davies says. “Obviously there are going to be frustrations with the way the last couple of years have gone and it is up to us to be as strong as a team and put in a strong season to keep everyone happy.

“That starts by getting through this pre-season and getting a strong start. August is an important month. The game [against Ajax] is good for us with the European qualifiers. There is a plan behind each game towards what the opposition pose.

“The last couple of years the fans must have been frustrated with only one trophy. We are all collective to try and get that goal and win the league. August is an important month because the games start and you have the cup and the European games as well.”