Steven Gerrard on why Rangers are not the 'finished article' and the player who has improved 'in every area' this season

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard insists his team has yet to reach its full potential despite enjoying a 20-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says Cedric Itten is 'on the cusp' of earning a regular place in his starting line-up. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

The Ibrox side will look to increase that advantage over Celtic in the title race to 23 points when they host Ross County on Saturday afternoon with Gerrard making it clear he will continue to demand improvements from his players as he bids to prevent any complacency in their approach.

“It’s been a case of pushing every single department,” said Gerrard. “The players want to improve and they want to get better but I won’t allow anyone to think we’re the finished article because we’re not.

“It’s important we push the standards all the time, individually and collectively. As a group and as a staff, we are all over the players to try and drag the best out of them.

“They are well aware of how our journey has gone so far and what still needs to be done.

“We know what we’ve done well and what we haven’t done so well, we have been together long enough.

“We know we can’t take our eye off the ball at any time, we can’t become complacent.”

Gerrard was unhappy with Rangers’ first half performance against Motherwell at Fir Park last Sunday where their unbeaten record in the league this season was preserved by a goal from second half substitute Cedric Itten.

The Swiss international striker has started just six games since his £2.7 million move from St Gallen in August but Gerrard confirmed the 24-year-old is now set for a regular run of appearances in his first eleven.

“For sure,” said Gerrard. “Cedric is working ever so hard. We collect all the data of every player in the building and he has improved in every single area since he arrived from a physical point of view.

“Mentally, he is ready. He is training extremely well and he came on and made a difference last week.

“So, yes, he is on the cusp and is very much in my thoughts. Over the course of the coming games, he will get minutes to contribute to the cause of the team.”

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