GERRARD RELISHING ‘STICK’ FROM ABERDEEN FANS

From Back Page am going to get. I just hope that we are smiling when we come away from it. ‘Domestically, what a start to go in right at the deep end. Aberdeen away, right into that cauldron. Let’s see what we’ve got. It will be a tough game for us.’ Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack was sent off on his last visit to Pittodrie and is set to be the target of supporter flak when he again returns to his former club. Gerrard, though, feels confident that Jack (pictured right) will show focused aggression after lauding his performance in Thursday evening’s 1-1 draw with Osijek, which secured a path into the third round of Europa League qualifying. ‘I trust Ryan,’ added the Ibrox boss. ‘I’m confident in him. The team need him on the pitch. We need discipline. It’s tough enough going to Aberdeen with 11 people, never mind ten. ‘That goes for everyone, not just Ryan. I think he should now have the experience and composure to handle that situation.’ Gerrard, who has seen an initial £200,000 offer rejected for Hearts striker Kyle Lafferty and is also seeking a centre-back, admitted that he was hopeful of adding an 11th summer signing ‘in the

next three or four days’. As it is, the scale of the summer overhaul and the promising early Europa League results have increased optimism among fans of a title challenge. Gerrard, though, is refusing to set his squad any defined targets. ‘The expectation for all of the players is to go and get a result at Aberdeen this weekend,’ he said. ‘It is not worth worrying about the end of the season because it is too far away. We just go game by game.’

THE Rangers Charity Foundation yesterday made a £20,000 donation to Scottish Autism, marking the end of a year-long partnership.