Niall can be sharp as attack

IBROX BOSS ADMITS HITTING TOP WAS THE EASIER BIT..STAYING THERE IS THE HARD PART

NIALL MCGINN has admitted he’d jump at the chance to play through the middle again and try to solve Aberdeen’s goal crisis.

The Dons head to Ibrox this evening knowing their lack of firepower this season has been a major issue.

Aberdeen have netted only 16 goals in 13 league games and this failure to find a cutting edge has been a constant headache for Derek Mcinnes’ side.

Gary Mackaysteven is the club’s top scorer with six goals but he is currently ruled out after his Cup final concussion.

Mcginn has only one goal to his name, but the Tyrone man has enjoyed a prolific spell in the past when used as a main striker.

And he would be happy to try and turn back the clock if boss Mcinnes was willing to give him a go in a position he felt brought out the best in him.

The 31-year-old said: “If I was asked to play through the middle again, would I do it? Yes I would. If that opportunity came along I would try to grab it with both hands.

“I enjoyed it. Even when you aren’t having a great game, you still get chances.

“My first season under Craig Brown I scored a lot of goals and played with a lot of freedom.” IT’S hard to get there and even harder to stay there.

Steven Gerrard (left) has worked damned hard to get Rangers back to the top of the Premiership. Yet he knows fine well and says as much, that with 22 games to go in this title race, it’s going to take even more graft to stay there.

Gerrard celebrated strongly on the final whistle at Tynecastle last weekend as it was a win which took Rangers to the summit.

But the job is only just beginning, as far as he’s concerned.

Gerrard said: “It’s hard to get there and even harder to stay there.

“I love the quote because certainly my experience as a player over many, many seasons I experienced that.

“Everyone wants to beat Rangers. Beating Rangers is a big achievement. There are other fantastic teams in the league who are not going to be happy seeing us there, so we are there to be shot at.

“But we have to handle the pressure and the responsibility and try and enjoy it rather than be concerned about it.”

Assessing that final statement suggests having Gerrard as their manager is ideal for the Rangers players.

The pressures at Ibrox are intoxicating, the strains and demands excruciating.

Yet Gerrard lives for it. It’s all he knows. He can’t imagine working life without it as he explained: “I am absolutely loving this.

“When I came out from being a player, there was a huge void in my life and this is as close as you can get to being in the mix and feeling the emotions that I missed.

“I am loving the challenge and really delighted to be the manager of this wonderful club. I just hope that come the business end, we are still in this position where there is a lot of attention on us.

“I don’t see myself being a manager of numerous clubs throughout my career. I think it has to be a certain draw, has to give me a certain feeling.

“That is the reason I am enjoying it so much. It is the only thing I know, the only environment I know. That is what I love.”

Scott Arfield will miss the match tonight through suspension after his sending off against Hearts on Sunday.

Borna Barisic and Ryan Kent are back in training but this game could come too soon. Graham Dorrans and Jamie Murphy are long-term crocks.

Gary Mackay-steven won’t play after his horror head clash with Dedryck Boyata at the weekend.

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