Matt Crooks has all the attributes to be a big hit with Glasgow Rangers next season.

The 22-year-old defender – who can also operate in midfield – is currently recovering from an ankle operation but will be ready to make an impact at Ibrox.

Crooks is big and rangy, not afraid to put in a tackle but also comfortable on the ball.

Those skills have been honed since his early appearances in senior football and he would seem ideally suited to a Rangers cause back in the domestic top flight.

Huddersfield-born Crooks, who lived at Lascelles Hall and attended QEGS in Wakefield, came through at his hometown club after signing from the Manchester United Academy as an Under 14, and has gone on to flourish at Accrington Stanley.

Matt Crooks (left) and Josh Windass of Accrington Stanley

Crooks, who is on medication to control epilepsy diagnosed 18 months ago, is building a solid career for himself.

At the time of signing for Rangers, he tweeted: ‘What a difference a year makes ... absolutely buzzing to sign for such a massive, ambitious club @RangersFC.’

His debut in the Football League, however, was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Having played mostly in midfield, he was called in as a centre-back for the opening game of the 2014-15 season against Bournemouth at the John Smith’s Stadium.

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It was then boss Mark Robins who spotted his potential to step up, after an impressive pre-season, but it all went wrong as Huddersfield were hammered by a Bournemouth side ultimately destined for the Premier League.

Crooks’ situation wasn’t helped by the fact that Robins left the club within 24 hours, so the local lad, who had had previous loan spells at Halifax and Radcliffe Borough, was back out in the cold.

He joined Hartlepool on loan and then Accrington, finally signing in February 2015 after joining initially on loan in October 2014.

In the season just finished, he was consistent enough to earn 35 appearances, scoring eight goals, before his injury.

Clubmate Josh Windass, who also came through youth football at Huddersfield Town and signed a pre-contract agreement with Rangers in January, will be heading north with him.