The full-back thinks Gers fans are starting to see the performances which saw him narrowly miss out on the Premier League title with Liverpool in 2014.
Flanagan returned to pre-season having upped his training regime in the summer break and is determined to make it count when the action begins.
Speaking to RangersTV in Portugal he said: “I worked hard over the summer, my aim was to take it easy over the break and come back in the best possible shape. I have been doing well so far so I just need to continue that.
“I did a lot of runs over the summer and concentrated on my diet. I just chilled out and didn’t go too mad!
“It was important to me to come back like that, I wanted to carry on where I left off last year. I played the last six games I think and I just want to carry on playing for this club.
“I want to be in the team and in order to do that I need to be in the best possible shape I can be in.
“I am feeling good and I am excited to see what this season brings. I am in a good mindset at the minute and I am ready to kick on.
“To end last season how we did, I think the team were in really good form and I just want that to continue really.
“I will keep fighting for my place and hopefully get as many minutes under my belt as possible.
“I think I am getting there, the back end of last season was the best I have felt for a long time. I just need to try and maintain that and keep getting better.
“My aims for this this year are to try and cement a place in the team and help us do good things.
“Pre-season is massive for everyone, there is a lot of competition there and we will see but I am feeling good and hopefully can try and keep my place.”
Flanagan has seen himself become a cult hero amongst the Rangers support for his tough tackling and he is promising the same approach during the new campaign.
He smiled: “Tackling is part of my game, full blooded tackles are something I do and hopefully that can continue!
“A lot of the modern day full-backs are a lot more attacking but as a defender, and you could say I am old school, but my first job is to defend and try and keep as many clean sheets as possible.”