FESTIVE FRENZY THE KEY TO McALLISTER’S PREMIERSHIP DREAM

GARY McALLISTER says a frantic festive fixture schedule will be pivotal to Rangers’ hopes of securing their first league title in ten years. The Premiership leaders begin a testing period with tonight’s trip to St Johnstone, followed by quickfire games against Hibs and St Mirren before the end of the year. Currently 16 points clear of Celtic, who have three games in hand, the bitter Glasgow rivals meet at Ibrox on January 2. And assistant manager McAllister believes the safe negotiation of four tricky fixtures will leave Rangers well placed to avoid another calamitous collapse in the New Year. ‘I’ve been involved in football a long time and I always feel the Christmas and New Year period is very pivotal,’ said McAllister. ‘If you can get through these games and be positive then, by the end of it, it stands you in good stead looking forward to April and May. ‘It’s always been the case, as far as I’m concerned, that the games around Boxing Day and New Year are pretty key. ‘We are approaching this little tranche of games with that sort of mindset. ‘Obviously we are just treating them as they come, but they come pretty close together so our preparation has got to be pretty spot on and we are keeping our fingers crossed we can stay clear of any little injuries.’ Alfredo Morelos is available after a twomatch suspension, with manager Steven Gerrard facing a selection dilemma after Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten pulled Rangers back from the dead in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Motherwell.

‘We are just pleased we have four quality strikers,’ said McAllister. ‘If you look across all the major clubs and the teams trying to finish in top spot, they all have three or four quality strikers and that’s what we have. ‘Competition is fierce, there are a lot of games, so it’s nearly impossible to play every one. It’s reassuring that we have real competition now, which is a big plus going into this run of games.’

In stark contrast with this time last year, Morelos has just seven goals in the current campaign. Admitting the Colombian now contributes in other ways, however, the Ibrox No 2 added: ‘It’s about scoring goals, make no mistake, but his general play has definitely rewarded other players round about him. ‘The fact he’s pulling defenders away from goal has enabled other strikers and forward players to dive into those spaces vacated by Alfredo making clever movements.’ Injured since a 4-0 win over Aberdeen a month ago, midfielder Ryan Jack is approaching a return and will likely be back for the Boxing Day clash with Hibs at Ibrox. ‘Ryan has had a couple of days on the grass and we are really positive that he could be in and around the squad for Boxing Day,’ confirmed McAllister. ‘That is a big plus going into this heavy schedule of games. ‘He won’t be in the squad (tonight) but we’re hopeful he’ll be in and around it for Hibs.’ Meanwhile, St Johnstone defender Liam Gordon admits the addition of Roofe and Itten has made Rangers a different proposition this season.

Both were on target in the win over Motherwell and Gordon, who could be handed the captain’s armband for tonight’s Perth clash again with Jason Kerr suspended, is aware of the threat. ‘We know it’s going to be a very difficult game,’ he said. ‘They have more options up front this season. Roofe has a very good background, has played at a high level for a few seasons. And you don’t have to go into Jermain Defoe’s background. Everyone knows what he has done as one of the best strikers in England. ‘You also have Itten and, of course, Morelos. They have great attacking options. But hopefully there is nothing we can’t deal with. ‘We know we are going to be up against it. But look at what St Mirren did in the cup. That shows Rangers aren’t invincible. We believe we can get something from this game.’