Rangers are good enough to get to the top of the SPL and to stay there, says midfielder Ovie Ejaria.
Steven Gerrard’s team are unbeaten in 10 league matches, and have the opportunity to move above Celtic with a win against a faltering Hearts side at Tynecastle next weekend.
The 21-year-old, on loan from Liverpool, is keen for him and his teammates to take the initiative in the race for the championship title, and believes they are good enough to stay on top should they get there.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Hearts, as reported in The Herald, he said: “If we win next week it would be a big confidence boost for us. Could we stay there? Yes, definitely but we have to take each game and use the confidence from each match.
Asked if he could see title-winning potential in the current Rangers squad, the midfielder added: “Yes, definitely. There are a lot of top players here and everyone is focused and that’s our goal.
“It’s quite close at the top. We know Celtic are a very good side and we’re a very good side as well so we’re confident we can do really well.
“I’m not too sure how Celtic will see it [if Rangers go top] but we see it as a big opportunity and everyone is really focused. Our main goal is to try and win the league.”
Opinion
Even the most optimistic and fanatical Rangers fan must be taken aback by the immediacy of the progress made under Steven Gerrard so far. Granted, Celtic would still have a game in hand on the Gers, but to move above the defending champions, even for a short while, would not only apply some pressure, but act as a major statement of intent as well. Whether or not that level of pressure can be sustained for the rest of the season remains to be seen, however. Celtic suffered an unusually shaky start, which has undoubtedly helped the causes of their closest challengers, but look to be back on track having gone six games unbeaten to drag themselves back to the summit of the SPL. The poor form of Brendan Rodgers’ side shouldn’t detract from the marked improvement of Gerrard’s, but you can’t help feeling that when both are operating at full capacity, as Celtic are beginning to do, the Bhoys will still have too much in the tank to keep pace with.