MATEUSZ ZUKOWSKI insists he has returned to Poland as a better player and person after leaving Rangers and clinching a loan deal with Lech Poznan.

The 20-year-old moved to Ibrox last January from Lechia Gdańsk and made his debut in the Scottish Cup victory over Annan Athletic.

Zukowski has seen his route to first team football blocked by captain James Tavernier once again this term and his chances of action were going to be limited in the coming months.

He will now spend the campaign on loan with Lech and said: "I hope to show you what I learned in Rangers over the past few months.

"I am coming back to Poland as a better footballer and man. I am very happy and I am looking forward to the first training session, as well as the match.

"I feel good in both positions. Lech coach's decision where I will play.

"At Rangers, I was placed on the right back. Maybe not in matches, because there weren't many of those, but I was honed as a side defender and worked hard on defence.

"Although, of course, I also feel good on the wing. This is the first position I have played. That is why I am ready to perform in both places."

Rangers have allowed Zukowski to head for the exit door in an attempt to progress youngster Adam Devine through the ranks.

The Ekstraklasa outfit could look to make the move permanent in the summer and sports director Tomasz Rzasa is pleased to have the deal done ahead of deadline day.

Rzasa said: "Mateusz has now been loaned to us until the end of this season, we also have a guaranteed buy-out option.

"Our new player is to strengthen the rivalry on the right-back, where he will fight for a place in the squad with Joel Pereira and Alan Czerwiński, who is now injured.

"However, he can also play higher as a winger. Mateusz knows our league well, he left it for a strong club, where he strengthened himself physically. We are counting on its further development in our club."