Scott Arfield insists Rangers ARE on course to end Celtic's domination of Scottish football.
But he reckons winning a trophy this season "probably would have been a bonus".
Ibrox chairman Dave King set the cat among the pigeons on Monday when he claimed the Light Blues were "within tangible reach" of becoming the dominant force in Scottish football.
And while Arfield wasn't quite so bullish as King as he looked forward to the next season, he is confident Rangers are in a good place as they bid to end Celtic's quest for 9 and 10-in-a-row.
The Canada international has been a major player for Steven Gerrard since arriving from Burnley a year ago. His run of goalscoring form saw him linked with Southampton last week, although Record Sport checks revealed there was no truth in the speculation.
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Now he hinted that he will be at Ibrox for at least the duration of his contract, which expires in 2022. He expects to have winners' gongs in his possession before then.
And the 30-year-old says the 1-0 Ibrox win over their rivals as well as the 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park last month prove the gap is closing.
"We had a big turnover at the start of the season and in January and it takes time for it all to cement and to get a trophy this year would have been a bonus," Arfield told Sky Sports.
"But next season we are definitely there for this, the enthusiasm is there and it has to be because you are representing millions of people around the planet.
"People are going to talk about how many points Celtic have won the league by this year.
"But I think it's very evident the last two games particularly the one at Parkhead, the mentality was there. It was a mistake from us from a personal point of view and that mistake doesn't happen. We dominated that game for large periods and the game at Ibrox we dominated for the full 90 minutes.
"We showed that we are on course for something here.
"I have a four year contract and three years left after this. People can judge me after that but I know I will have some trophies."
