Gerrard feels fresh faces will boost title push
Manager backs new boys to play their part for Rangers during Premiership run
IF the entire Rangers first team squad was laid low by yellow fever tomorrow the Ibrox club would probably still go on and win the Premiership at a canter playing kids.
Their lead is substantial, second-placed Celtic are in disarray and they only have another 12 matches. There is considerable margin for error.
Yet, Steven Gerrard still feels that freshening up the options available to him before the January transfer window closed on Monday night will aid his side’s Scottish title bid.
Jack Simpson and Scott Wright, who had signed pre-contract agreements, arrived from Bournemouth and Aberdeen respectively in the final hours of the window as Brandon Barker, George Edmondson, Jordan Jones and Glenn Middleton all departed on loan.
Having defender Simpson and winger Wright involved during the remaining months of the 2020/21 campaign will allow the duo to settle into their new surroundings and enable them to make a major impact next term.
However, Gerrard, whose men take on St Johnstone at home in the league this evening, is also hopeful the new faces will invigorate his team as they close in on the Premiership trophy in the weeks ahead.
“I am delighted with how the window has gone from a personal point of view,” he said. “I must pay my respect again to Ross Wilson (Rangers’ sporting director) and the board for the way they went about it.
“I know the two signings happened late on Monday night, but there was an awful lot of work which went into it throughout the window and prior to it, to identify our targets and get the deals done.
“I’m delighted to have the two new boys in, I think they will really freshen things up. It’s a bonus to get them down in this window, rather than waiting until the summer.
“We have three and a half months now to really get them ready. They are excited and they will help us in the short term, for sure. They are two talented players.
“A few players have gone out the other way who were in different situations but weren’t really getting the game time they were happy with. So, I think the window has worked out pretty well. I think those two players will re-energise us now in the games moving forward.”
Gerrard added: “With Jordan Jones and Brandon Barker going out, it was important we got the Scott Wright deal done so we are okay in the forward positions.
“George Edmundson had an opportunity he wanted to explore at Derby because he wanted game time, he’s had a frustrating season. We respected that. So, it’s important that we have four strong centre-half options and I’m really pleased with how it has worked out.
“I am confident that the players we have added are going to contribute from now until the end of the season which will be a bonus because I didn’t expect them until the summer. It also made me push on certain decisions to allow certain players to go out.”
Simpson’s club mate Nnamdi Ofoborh, who signed a precontract agreement with Rangers last month, returned to English Championship club Wycombe Wanderers on loan on Monday.
Gerrard, though, feels he is well covered in Ofoborh’s position and is happy the central midfielder, who spent last season at Adams Park, will get regular matches before moving to Glasgow.
“Nnamdi’s situation was slightly different to the other two boys,” he said. “In the midfield area, we are fighting for numbers right now so there wasn’t really a rush or need to push that one through.
“But I’m really pleased he