James Tavernier could be back to lead Rangers to league glory as Steven Gerrard admitted his players are zoning in on clinching an historic title.
The Light Blues boss watched his side thump Dundee United 4-1 at Ibrox and victories in their next three games will effectively see them crowned champions.
Ianis Hagi, Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and Alfredo Morelos were all on target as Gers followed up their midweek Euro win over Royal Antwerp with victory over the Tangerines, who netted a late consolation through substitute Marc McNulty.
Borna Barisic missed a penalty but the win maintained Gers’ perfect home record and moved them 18 points clear of Celtic ahead of their trip to Ross County in the late kick-off.
Wins over Livingston and St Mirren in their next two games would set them up to clinch the Scottish Premiership if they beat their bitter rivals on their own patch on March 21.
Gerrard has been boosted by the news that Tavernier could be back by then after scans revealed his injury suffered in Belgium isn’t as bad as was first feared.
And it’s the same for Kemar Roofe who also limped out of the Europa League tie - but Ryan Jack now faces a sweat over a calf injury which forced him off against the Tangerines.
Gerrard admitted his players are fully focused on delivering the league with the finishing line in sight and on skipper Tavernier, he said: “James and Kemar will miss the next couple of weeks at least. It’s difficult to put an exact date on their return but they will certainly miss the next couple of weeks.
“All being well we should see them in two to three weeks. The main thing that has pleased me at the moment is that the players are really in the zone.
“I can see the focus, I can see the determination. I thought when we were 4-0 up today we could have been better in terms of our standards to see the game out better.
“But that is me being fussy and the way I am and I will continue to try and keep the players on their toes. The big reminder today is that it is another positive result, another big step, but we have still got work to do.
“It is normal to think (about the title). I don’t think there is any harm to think. But the one thing I won’t do is get carried away too soon.
“We very much realise where we are and the opportunity that we have got but the full focus and full attention turns to Thursday night now because we want to go and match last season’s achievement of going to the last 16 in Europe.
“That is very important to us and then we have got a bit of a gap to Livingston away and we will move on to there. We have just got to finish the job off.
“The games are there for us, the opportunity is there for us but the big reminder to myself, staff, players, supporters and anyone else that is covering us is that we have won nothing yet.”
Gerrard admitted he was upset with midfielder Jack trying to play on after first feeling his injury before he was eventually replaced by Glen Kamara.
The Gers boss said: “Ryan felt tightness after 10 minutes and I’m a little bit upset he didn’t report it and played on longer so we’ll scan it and see what the damage is.
“We’ll check him out in the next 24 hours. We’ll send him for a scan. We’re hoping he has reported the injury before it’s become a bigger problem.
“He’s felt some tightness in the calf. But until we get a scan on it we won’t know the extent of it. I’m disappointed to see him go off because he’s come back from the previous injury really bright.
“Everyone knows how important he is to us. Fingers crossed the outcome of that scan is positive rather than negative.”
With regular penalty taker Tavernier off the pitch, Barisic kept his cool to net a couple of spot kicks in the win over Royal Antwerp but saw his effort saved by United keeper Benjamin Siegrist.
But asked if the Croatian will remain on spot kick duty, Gerrard said: “I am sure he will put his hand up. It shows that he is human missing the penalty today.
“Jermain Defoe was trying to put his name on it and didn’t really have much time. I am sure he will put his hand up. If not, there will be a queue because everyone wants to take penalties and it is a great opportunity to score.
“I will be disappointed if he doesn’t put his hand up, that is for sure.”
