IT IS TIME TO STANDUP AND BE COUNTED

Gerrard confident his players now have the character and belief to cope in the heat of title battle

FACED with previous perilous journeys during recent seasons, Rangers have often felt the ground crumbling beneath them and witnessed their form falling off a cliff. Steven Gerrard does not intend to see his team endure familiar failings. Sitting pretty both domestically and in Europe, each step taken so far has led to success.

But if there is one thing the Ibrox manager has learned over the years, it is that plaudits and victories are all very well in the first half of a campaign. Lasting the distance and staying on track will be the true test for the club.

For the second successive season, Rangers can l ook forward to Europa League football after Christmas with a place in the last 32 secured following their win over Standard Liege on Thursday night.

Eleven points clear of Celtic at the top of the Premiership, having played two games more, Gerrard approaches the New Year with his team full of confidence and in a more commanding position than he has been used to.

The fact positive results have been achieved while the team has been missing some of its most vaunted stars speaks volumes for the resilience and steadiness which has been driven into this group of players.

Scotland midfielder Ryan Jack is not expected to be fit for today’s trip north to face Ross County in Dingwall.

Filip Helander remains missing after testing positive for Covid-19 last week and is in self-isolation. As Gerrard admits, the options at centre-back is an area of concern.

George Edmundson, who is serving a seven-match ban for breaching coronavirus protocols, cannot be called upon.

But, when there have been gaps to fill, the former Liverpool captain has not pressed the panic button. Learning valuable lessons has helped him develop a winning mentality among his squad and he hopes intensity levels will not drop when it comes to their assault on all competitions.

‘I have big confidence and belief in this group,’ said Gerrard. ‘I think this is a group that is really focused and have a belief in themselves.

‘They have learned a lot over the last couple of years, in terms of the journey.

‘And yes, we have missed big players at big times but other people have been given the opportunity to step in and have really stood up, been counted and delivered big performances.

‘So our level as a group hasn’t dropped. We have to continue that. We need to get a couple of important bodies back with us as quick as we can — Ryan Jack and Filip Helander.

‘Our options at centre-back at the moment, because of the George Edmundson situation, isn’t good.

‘Also, Ryan Jack is a super important player for us. If we get them (Jack and Helander) back in the next week or so, I’ll be a lot more comfortable.

‘But I have to give the players credit because when we have had big players missing like (Kemar) Roofe, (Joe) Aribo, Jack and Helander, the players that have come in have really put in top performances and made it look as if we haven’t missed them.

‘As a manager, you want them all back available as quickly as you can.’

The mission for Gerrard is to ensure his players to do not drop the ball. After earning themselves a promising position as they attempt to win their first title since 2011, the manager wants to see more than wins on the pitch.

The tempo and work put in on the training ground has impressed him during this demanding season.

‘We haven’t changed it since we went along,’ continued Gerrard. ‘We’ve tried to set that culture since day one.

‘We have set standards in terms of what we expect training to look like, in terms of the intensity. I think players react at different times to what you want.

‘There are players who have been on the full journey that are really comfortable with what’s expected of them. Some people haven’t been able to cope with that and we’ve had to move them in different directions.

‘We’ve tried to recruit people, as best we can, that we know can cope and deal with it.

‘I think adding better players to it as we’ve gone along has certainly helped us get to where we are today. We’ve still got more to do to get to where we want to.’

Asked about the character of his squad, Gerrard noted: ‘I think you need it, for sure. I think it’s a big ingredient if you want to be successful come the end of the season.

‘You have to show character but not just in certain games — you need to show it over the course of the season.

‘The contrast of games and the challenges in the schedule that we have faced and are about to face is challenging. We know it’s going to be a difficult journey. We have to make sure our character is there all the time, consistently, to get where we want to get to.’

Spirit was definitely required in midweek as Rangers were forced to come from behind twice to beat Standard Liege at Ibrox.

It was a different challenge for the team given their solid defensive showings during the campaign so far.

Keeping their unbeaten run of 24 games intact, they now face Stuart Kettlewell’s side, who added to Celtic’s crisis by knocking the holders out of the Betfred Cup last weekend.

Gerrard is delighted that his men have remained strong despite facing all manner of hurdles.

‘You have to have resilience, you have to have character and belief,’ he said. ‘It’s not always going to be plain sailing.

‘There will be challenges out there and setbacks within games that we’re going to have to deal with, accept and react really quickly to.

‘The boys are showing different sides to them. It’s really pleasing to see that each challenge put in front of them, they are really standing up and facing it.

‘They are also managing games well and reacting i n certain situations really positively.

‘I’m happy but we have to maintain and show we can deliver for a longer period — not just the first three or four months of the season.’

Gerrard knows he will have to rotate his squad as they fight on several fronts.

But watching experienced players — including goalkeeper Allan McGregor and midfielders Steven Davis and Scott Arfield — work with the younger stars, Gerrard believes he has the perfect mix.

‘We’ve got a good blend in the squad at the moment of real, experienced players who have done a lot in their careers,’ added the Rangers boss. ‘They’re fantastic people and great professionals.

‘They realise they have a responsibility to help the younger players in the group. The younger players have a responsibility to try and be like sponges to watch these players and learn as much as they can off them.

‘It works both ways but the leadership group we’ve got at the moment in the dressing room are really setting the standard on and off the pitch.

‘It’s great for me as it makes my job a lot easier when I know that the messages that I and my staff want to relay on a daily basis are being repeated and everyone is following them.’