Barry Ferguson has urged Rangers to tap into the ‘workmanlike’ spirit of the side he skippered to the 2008 UEFA Cup final when they take on Athletic Bilbao in Thursday night’s Europa League showdown.

The Light Blues held the La Liga outfit to a goalless draw in the first game at Ibrox after playing most of the night with 10 men following Robin Propper’s 13th-minute red card.

Now they hope to progress to the last four by emerging triumphant in the San Mames Stadium, which will host next month’s final.

He knows what he’s looking for from his side in Spain. 

‘Yeah, same work ethic to that team I played in,’ he said. ‘Very workmanlike. That’s what I want to see from my team. 

Barry Ferguson explains what he wants to see from his players against Athletic Bilbao

Ferguson was proud of spirit of side he skippered to 2008 UEFA Cup final, although they lost to Zenit St Petersburg in final in Manchester

Interim boss Ferguson looks confident as he takes training session before Euro showdown

‘But, also, we’ve got good footballers. So when we have the ball, certainly at a stadium like this, you need to be able to keep it. We’ve spoken about that as well, because we need to defend.

‘They’re a very attack-minded team but, when we get possession, we need to be better

‘The way we are going to set up and play tomorrow night, it only takes one member of the team to switch off, and if that happens, they are going to hurt us. It’s important we are switched on every single second of the game. You have roles and responsibilities with and without the ball.’

Ferguson hopes to take advantage of the pressure Bilbao will be under, given their stadium is also hosting the final.

‘Look, the players understand the final will be here, and I would reckon the players will be desperate to get to the final, but we are in front of them. We need to show we are desperate to get there.

Ferguson shows some of the old style he displayed as a Rangers midfielder and captain

Skipper James Tavernier is hoping to lead the Rangers team to a famous victory in Spain

‘We have a big 90 minutes, or extra-time and penalties, but we are fully prepared and understand they are going to come at us.’

Rangers beat Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in a penalty shoot-out in the last round and Ferguson is braced for another potentially nervous finale.

‘That’s a high possibility but my players showed they can do that against Fenerbahce. They can go right to the end.

‘In terms of practising penalties, I leave that up to the players, some stay out and do things like that but ideally I don’t want it to go to penalties or extra-time. It may have to but we are well prepared for that.’

While Propper is suspended, John Souttar and Mohamed Diomande return from bans.