Steven Gerrard salutes the special Rangers dressing room factor driving quest to land title

Steven Gerrard has challenged his new Rangers players to prove they’ve got the mentality to win a title.

The Ibrox side kick off their Premiership campaign at Rugby Park against a Kilmarnock team they couldn’t beat in the league last term.

Gerrard wants maximum points and a flying start in Ayrshire as they bid to stop Celtic’s 9-in-a-row charge, with Neil Lennon's side starting their title bid with an emphatic 7-0 win over St Johnstone on Saturday.

The Gers gaffer was warned his summer recruits that the level of scrutiny they’re under in Glasgow will be like nothing they’ve experienced before.

And Gerrard says it’s up to them to show enough character to deal with it.

(SNS)

He said: “At the players’ previous clubs a point on the opening day of the season away from home might be a solid start. But it doesn’t work like that here.

“For the new players coming here, that will be the biggest eye opener.

“With all due respect to the clubs they’ve been at before, coming to Rangers, the demands and expectations of supporters is completely different.

“I came from Liverpool and it’s very similar there.

“But if you look at these players, not many have come from clubs where if you drop points or suffer a defeat, the reaction is like the world’s going to end.

“That’s where the new players have to get up to speed very quickly – because the expectation is huge.

“My dressing-room helps me with that. New players ask a lot of questions about the club they’re about to join.

“So I’m sure they’re aware of it, you only have to look at the success the club’s had in the past.

“They’re bright enough to know the expectation level is different here.

“And the experienced players already here will help me. The fact we’ve got some Rangers supporters in there too, should also help.

“They’re hungry for success so they realise that the quicker the new boys settle and understand the challenge they face here, it’s going to help them.

“I do see a lot of hunger in the dressing room. I see a better equipped squad this season – but we have to go and prove it now.”