THE endeavour of Rangers over the course of 240 minutes between Thursday and Sunday was nothing short of incredible.

The team showed qualities that have been missing in recent times. In both games, they faced adversity and moments that shook the team. Both times they came battling back to get the correct result.

After the Old Firm at Ibrox, I wrote that if Giovanni van Bronckhorst is to succeed as Rangers manager, he needs to oversee a culture change at the club. Football can change incredibly quickly and it looks as if the squad is in a completely different frame of mind already. They’re learning how to play without Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe is stepping up, and the team generally looks more confident and willing.

Doubts about van Bronckhorst’s abilities started to surface after the collapse in league form, and some comments were fair. He has overseen an improvement that has led to his name ringing around the stadium again, something few would have predicted two weeks ago. The way he has turned it around shows he’s learning and developing in the role. Barring a spectacular collapse between now and the end of the season, he deserves to bring his own players and start to rebuild the squad in his image.

Players will inevitably leave in the summer and in some cases, the timing makes sense. They were brought in with Steven Gerrard’s style in mind and some degree of squad restructuring is required if van Bronckhorst is to be given a fair crack at the job.

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One player that it would make sense not to replace is Connor Goldson.

Four players played the full 240 minutes between Thursday and Sunday and it is no surprise that Goldson was one of them. The levels of consistency since he arrived at the club have been nothing short of remarkable. Sunday was his 53rd game of the season and he strolled through it like he has done so many times before. The diagonal ball in the build-up to Scott Arfield’s equaliser was stunning and having that in his locker has regularly been a game-changer for Rangers.

His dependency is a rare and precious quality to find in a player. He was the first name on the team sheet under Gerrard and nothing has changed under van Bronckhorst. Those around him rotate, but Goldson is the constant.

If he hasn’t signed a deal with another club, Ross Wilson should do everything in his power to get him back to the negotiating table. If, within reason, money has been the issue, it makes sense to meet his demands.

A defence is the foundation of a team and Goldson is the foundation of Rangers’ defence. It would be difficult to find someone who can provide that consistency. Leon Balogun and Filip Helander regularly struggle for fitness, Calvin Bassey may spend more of his time at left-back and the arriving John Souttar has historic and current injury problems.

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It’s difficult to point out who will be relied on at centre back without Goldson and there will be an element of risk attached to replacing him.

Goldson hung back at the end of Sunday’s semi-final to drink in the atmosphere in the stadium. He clearly loves the club and a move to an English Championship side may be a crash back to earth in comparison to what he experiences at Rangers.

Whatever happens with regards to Goldson’s contract, he still has time to make himself a legend at the club. The hopes of winning the league remain slender, but for him to potentially end the season with a trip to the Europa League final and a Scottish Cup would be an incredible achievement.

If he then leaves following some further success, Rangers will be a poorer team for losing him. He hasn’t been perfect and he has made mistakes during rocky periods, but the positives vastly outweigh the negatives.

There can be many more occasions for Goldson to drink in the atmosphere in the ground. One last attempt to convince him to stay may be the best business Rangers could do this summer.