GERS MUST BOOST FIREPOWER

Lee McCulloch calls for Gerrard to increase Ibrox side’s strike options

STEVEN Gerrard may have strengthened his Rangers squad considerably with some quality signings like Scott Arfield, Jon Flanagan and Allan McGregor this summer.

But he still desperately needs to increase his options up front before the new season gets underway. At the moment, he only has Eduardo Herrera and Alfredo Morelos.

So I hope he is able to get Umar Sadiq tied up on a season-long loan deal from Roma in the coming days.

By all accounts, the big Nigerian, who stands 6ft 4in in his studs, is a target man. I think he is exactly the type of player Gerrard should be attempting to bring in.

Sadiq is only 21. But he has had stints at Bologna and Torino in Italy and Breda in the Netherlands in the past couple of years. So you would hope he would be able to cope with the demands of playing for Rangers in Scotland as well as in Europe.

Herrera is running out of time to kick on and prove himself. You can tell he has got ability, but he hasn’t produced it in games nearly enough for me.

Morelos has. He is young, he has got resale value, he has scored goals. But he still has much to learn and I think he can still get better.

The Colombian will expect to play every week. I am sure he will be looking to improve on his goal return next season and has every chance of doing that.

Having another striker there to both play alongside him and push him will only be beneficial.

Kris Boyd was the top scorer in the Ladbrokes Premiership last season. My old team-mate netted 18 times for Kilmarnock.

But I was astounded that neither a Celtic or a Rangers player got more.

I am sure that is something that Gerrard will have spotted since being being appointed and will be looking for – his main striker must score more goals.

So bringing in Sadiq will increase the chances of that happening. The sooner they can get him in the better. It will help get him integrated and used to the demands that will be on him at the club.

If Sadiq does come in he will become the eighth player who has joined Rangers either on loan or in

Herrera is running out of time to prove himself

a permanent deal in the close season.

Fair play to the Ibrox board, then, for backing their man and bringing in the targets he has identified. But there will be more players needed and more money required to get them. Hopefully they will be forthcoming. Rangers play their first pre-season friendly against Bury at Ibrox on Friday night and the supporters will be looking forward to seeing how Gerrard and his new recruits get on.

I always give a new Rangers player six months to prove himself. Some start on a high and then dip, others start off hesitantly and then get used to the expectations and atmosphere and kick on.

I took time to settle. I moved to Rangers from Wigan where a draw in the Premiership was considered a really good result. But that wasn’t the case at Ibrox. It can take a bit of time to adapt. That is true even for players who arrive from big clubs.

As Ally McCoist used to say “there’s a graveyard of international players who couldn’t cope with playing for Rangers outside of Ibrox”. It is so true. Playing for an Old Firm club is a test of your character and mental strength as much as your ability. You either sink or swim.

The new Rangers players must realise that every game, even the pre-season matches, they play from this point onwards is massive for them. They can’t afford to treat the Bury fixture like a friendly. They have to go out and do well enough to keep their place.

There has to be a high standard of performance every time they take to the field. That was the case when I was at the club and Walter Smith was the manager.

You had to prove yourself in every single training session.

Rangers don’t play friendlies. But I am sure that is what Gerrard and his coaching staff will be drumming into the players ahead of this meeting with Bury.

Rangers have quite a tough start to the new season - three of their first league games are away to Aberdeen, Motherwell and Celtic.

Every single player has to give it everything every single moment they are at training or they are playing in a game.

Anyone wanting to play in Steven Gerrard’s side must super-fit and obsessed with becoming better.

The new manager has raised the bar and his players have to ensure they are capable of rising to the challenge.