Rangers youngster Danny Wilson has thanked veteran team-mate David Weir for helping him handle his step up to the first team.

Wilson, 17, made his first start for the Light Blues in last Tuesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup win at Dundee and kept his place for Sunday's abandoned Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at Dundee United.

With fellow defender Weir playing into his 40th year, Wilson has the perfect role model for a long career in the game.

"Davie has been at the top for so many years now and he is a quality player," Wilson told Rangers News.

"When you see what he has achieved in the game and the way he carries himself on and off the pitch, he is definitely someone I look up to a lot.

"In training, he always tries to help me and talk me through different situations and I know how I am lucky to be learning from someone like that.

"He actually sent me a text before the Dundee game to wish me well, which was nice, and it gave me a big lift.

"But when you look at the players in the first team, you can learn something from them all.

"Last week, on my debut, I played alongside Sasa Papac and he reads the game so well. He is not a big talker on the pitch but the way he reads the play is fantastic.

"He got himself into some great covering positions and seemed to be everywhere. So he was brilliant to play alongside and his performance helped me a lot.

"I then played next to Davie against Dundee United on Sunday and I was delighted to get the chance to do that.

"It was just a shame it was abandoned as we were in a good position."

Wilson knows he is lucky to be breaking into the Rangers team at such a young age, having been given his big chance due to an injury to Madjid Bougherra.

He said: "I understand why there are maybe not a lot of central defenders that make their debuts at an early age.

"You are the second-last line of defence and if you make a mistake then it usually results in a goal.

"So the manager showed a lot of faith in me last week and I have to thank him for that.

"Hopefully he feels he can trust me and was happy with the way I've played."

Yet, Wilson is already bracing himself for a return to the under-19 squad.

He said: "Whether it is for the first team, reserves or under-19s, you have to perform well all the time at a club like Rangers."