Steven Gerrard has opened up on Jermain Defoe's "tailored" Rangers program while assessing his current Ibrox strike options.
The Ibrox boss was delighted with the impact Defoe made against Livingston at the weekend, but admits he's not going to be available for each match within the hectic Thursday-Sunday schedule.
Defoe has been given his own individual program to ensure he's in best possible shape when called upon, and he's at reduced risk of injury.
In addition to the 38-year-old, Gerrard also has Kemar Roofe, Alfredo Morelos and Cedric Itten to choose from in attack.
When asked how he manages a squad with four frontmen all vying for the one spot, the Rangers boss said: "It's fantastic to have them options. I think it's the first time that I've had this luxury, with this volume of strikers available.
"I'm hoping we stay in competition for a long time so we have a big volume of games to keep them all happy.
"This is the challenge of the job and the job I get paid to do is to pick players when they are in a good place, in good form, when they are working hard and showing me on a daily basis on a training pitch that they are ready to start games.
"Jermain's had quite a few injuries of late when he was playing too much. So he's a player we have to manage and bring in and out at the right time. He understands that.
"It was a good performance from him at the weekend with a world class goal. He's finally in the place this season where we've wanted him for a long time.
"He's ready, I know he's ready, so that's a fantastic place for me to be in. To have Jermain Defoe fully fit and ready to go.
"It doesn't make sense to ask Jermain to go Thursday-Sunday, Thursday-Sunday with the injuries he's had and his age. So we've made a decision to give him a different program, a tailored program which is different from the rest, so he can put in performances like he did at the weekend."
