MacLean shoots a warning

STEVEN MacLean played in a Rangers side awash with high-profile, international players in his younger days. He would look around at training and listen and learn from players such as Michael Mols, Ronald de Boer and Shota Arveladze.

Times might have changed at Ibrox, but the St Johnstone striker, now 34, insists the expectations of the Ibrox support hasn’t. The centre-back is hoping to line up against his old club today at McDiarmid Park, after being kept in reserve for the 1-0 midweek win over Hearts.

“I’m sure Rangers will have their game head on,” he said. “They have to because if they don’t deliver, they will get pelters. That’s the way it is at Celtic and Rangers. It will never change. If Rangers are in holiday mode I’m sure the fans will get right on their backs. But I don’t think that will happen because some of these players are playing for their futures under the new manager.

“It’s not been an acceptable season for Rangers and they will be looking to address that.

“Things have changed since I was at Rangers, but I don’t think anyone at Ibrox will accept being third, and the fans certainly won’t. I am sure Pedro Caixinha will be working hard over the summer to try to get it right.”

MacLean noted Perth chairman Steve Brown’s warning that manager Tommy Wright could be a summer target for clubs south of the border, with Saints already losing Owen Coyle, Derek McInnes and Steve Lomas to the Championship. And the 53-year-old Ulsterman’s track record in Perth has eclipsed their achievements, with a Scottish Cup and four Europa League qualifications on his CV.

“The manager has done very well here, but we have been through this before,” MacLean said.

“We definitely want to finish on a high. Rangers are coming to town and they are bringing a big crowd, so it will be a good game to play in and try to take another scalp. We have already set a new points record here, but it would be nice to take it over the 60 mark.”