Jack leader of the pack for Gerrard

ROSS CO ...... 0 RANGERS ..... 4

STEVEN GERRARD hailed Ryan Jack as an inspirational leader within his Rangers squad after the midfielder’s first-ever double helped put Ross County to the sword. Jack, who last week signed a contract extension to 2023, struck his first two league goals of the season as the Ibrox side powered to a 4-0 success in Dingwall. Alfredo Morelos also netted twice to raise his tally for the campaign to 18. The result left Rangers just a goal behind Celtic at the top of the Premiership, with Gerrard expressing delight at

the approach of his side. He reserved special praise for Jack, who scored with nearidentical right-foot efforts from just outside the area before being substituted with 27 minutes still to play. ‘How good has Ryan been since I’ve come through the door? He’s an example for the rest of the squad because he never drops his standards, whether it’s a training session or a game,’ enthused Gerrard. ‘He knits everything together, he drives the team on, he demands from everyone else. ‘It was a performance of a proper leader and with his two finishes, he is adding that to his game as well. He has come on leaps and bounds and just needs to keep going. ‘He is so vital to us and that’s the reason I took him off, because I had that luxury. He was getting excited for a hattrick but I had to take him off.’ Gerrard felt a standard was set in the Highlands. ‘It was a strong performance,’ he added. ‘I was delighted with our mentality coming into the game. We competed well and did all the basics very well. That’s what we need in every game — we can’t pick and choose. ‘I’ve been disappointed in how we started the two previous domestic games. We cruised into them with an arrogance which is not us. We’re not at the level where we can do that.’ Rangers now face Hearts at Hampden in Sunday’s Betfred Cup last-four meeting, seeking to reach the first final of Gerrard’s tenure. ‘We are in a good place,’ said the Ibrox boss. ‘We’ll go into the weekend with confidence and belief. There’s a lot at stake.’ County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell admitted it could have been even worse. ‘It was a game where we were worlds apart,’ he said. ‘We weren’t able to compete, other than the first 15 minutes.’