Bruce said: "Yeah it's definitely different but with a new manager, new staff and new ideas I wasn't expecting it to be the same.

"The manager has brought in fresh ideas and it's been a learning curve.

"(The European defeat) was a massive downer for everyone involved in the club . No disrespect to Connah's Quay but we were expecting to beat them.

"I had a watching brief for the two legs and for a game-and-a-half it was all going to plan.

"But it was one bad half of football that has been a real kick in the teeth for everyone concerned here.

"After all the hard work we put in last year we all wanted to have a good European run. We were all bitterly disappointed to get knocked out at such an early stage.

"One sure thing in football is that you always get a chance to put things right and there's no better way to put a marker down and show what you're worth than against a top quality side in Rangers on Sunday, live on the telly.

"When you lose any game you want to have a positive reaction.

"I'm sure the manager will back me up on that. He'll be looking for a positive reaction from the lads.

"Everyone was hurt by the result so to get a good result against Rangers on the first day of the season will be the perfect way to put that right."

Bruce is set to come up against a familiar opponent in Jermain Defoe.

"I've had a lot of battles with Jermain over the years," he said. "He's been a top quality player. You don't play for the clubs he has and to the age he's at now without being a top quality striker.

"He's a clever footballer, he's got great movement in the box, and the reason why Steven (Gerrard) has taken him to Ibrox is because he's a finisher and a handful.

"We'll have to be wary of him. I've tried to kick him a few times down the years but I've always enjoyed playing against him."