Steven Gerrard insists he’s ready for an Old Firm Scottish Cup battle against any potential new Celtic boss as he sets his sights on a dream double.
Rangers set up a blockbuster last 16 Scottish Cup tie after a 4-0 stroll against Cove Rangers at Ibrox just hours after learning the Hoops lay in wait in the next round.
And it hands Gers the chance to inflict a final blow on a catastrophic season for their arch-rivals by ensuring Celtic finish the season empty-handed for the first time in 11 years.
The tie will be played on the weekend of April 17/18 and will be the first of two derby showdowns in Govan in as many weeks, with the final league meeting taking place at Ibrox on on May 2.
And Celtic could have a new man in place in time for that derby double as they close in on former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe who could be appointed this week.
Jermain Defoe set Gers on their way to victory over Cove with his 30th goal for the club before Kemar Roofe’s quickfire double and Nathan Patterson’s strike before the break.
That set up the Hoops clash with the winners taking on either St Johnstone or Clyde for a place in the semi-finals and Gerrard is desperate to put a poor domestic cup record behind him and add to this season’s Scottish Premiership title.
The Gers boss - who also hit out at the SFA’s six-game ban for the Gers Covid Five as he backed the club’s appeal over that punishment - said of his potential rival: “Whoever they decide to choose, when that happens, I will look forward to the challenge and the battle and moving forward.
“There has been a lot of speculation and a lot of names bandied around over the last couple of weeks and months. I’m aware of it but I haven’t really taken much notice of it.
“From my point of view, it’s obviously important I keep doing my job here. This cup has become a priority now with the league done and dusted.
“We still want to see the league out as strong as we can. We want to try to keep our level and it’s my job to make sure the players don’t start becoming complacent or thinking they can drop their standards.
“But this cup has become a priority now. We are happy with the home draw to come out and obviously it being Celtic now makes it even more interesting.
“It will be a tough game, a tough challenge but one we’re very much looking forward to. It’s a fantastic game for us all to look forward to.
“I’m sure they’ll be desperate to finish the season on a high. Two good teams that will go for it but we’ll be ready when that comes round.”
Patterson netted the fourth goal against Cove and was impressive along with fellow full back Calvin Bassey but Gerrard faces an anxious wait to find out if they, along with Bongani Zungu, will be available for the Old Firm clash.
They were hit with six-match bans along with Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear, both out on loan, and Gerrard slammed the harsh punishment and said comparisons with Jordan Jones and George Edmundson who received seven match bans for breaking Covid rules is unfair.
He said: “We are in talks with the SFA over a date. The reason for the appeal is the obvious reason. We think it’s harsh in terms of what went on on the night.
“Everyone assumes because of what happened with Jordan Jones and George Edmundson that everything is the same, which isn’t the case.
“We think it’s a little bit out of sync in terms of what went on. We don’t think everything has been taken into consideration when you are talking about the boys in terms of age and how damaging it could be for them in their careers moving forward now.
“You are talking about one of the brightest prospects ever in terms of right back. This kid is going to go and play for Scotland and all of a sudden the SFA want to ban him for that long. I don’t see it. I don’t get it. But we’ll see what happens moving forward.
“I know Steve Clarke rates him. We’ve had a discussion over Nathan. He’s burst onto the scene, played against top teams and top individuals and you can see there is a talent and a potential there.
“It’s only a matter of time before he becomes an international. That’s not putting any pressure on the player. But those decisions are down to Steve and whoever manages Scotland moving forward.”
