Rangers boss Steven Gerrard leaps to the defence of under-fire Josh Windass

RANGERS boss Steven Gerrard has leapt to the defence of under-fire forward, Josh Windass.

The 24-year-old was criticised by supporters for his showing during the Ibrox side’s 2-0 win over Macedonian side, FK Shkupi.

His substitution by Glenn Middleton in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier was greeted with cheers by home fans.

Windass is currently being fielded on the right wing by Gerrard and doesn’t look entirely comfortable.

But the manager has made it clear the player will have to put up with it and his best hope of silencing his critics is by hitting the back of the net.

An ideal time to do that would be the second leg on Tuesday night.

Gerrard said: “Josh will play in different positions. I’ve told the other players that as well. We don’t say: ‘This is your position and you’re only going to play there’.

“We will play different systems and formations.

“If we feel Josh is the best man for a certain role in the team, he’ll play there.

“I thought he worked his socks off against Shkupi and could easily have got a couple of goals.

“Yes, I felt the reaction when he came off. Josh will deal with that. He’s a strong lad and the only way to win fans over is to score goals.

“We all know what’s going to come. That’s what you sign up to.

“The fans are desperate for goals, desperate to be entertained and to win games.

“So are we, we all feel it on the sides.

Gerrard is still working out what makes Windass tick – and it’s the same with several squad members.

He went on: “I’ve known Josh for three-and-a-half weeks. I’m still trying to work out the character of not just him, but a lot of them.

“We are getting used to each other, building relationships.

“What I will say is he has applied himself very, very well since day one.”

Players are always keen to impress a new manager, especially a famous name like Gerrard.

The former Liverpool player accepts some men in Light Blue are finding it a little tricky to get used to him.

He said: “I think you saw that in the first half the other night.

“You saw players trying to force the play and players trying to impress.

“They wanted to get in the headlines for the right reasons.

“It’s very difficult to criticise that. It comes from honesty and the players wanting to do well for this club and for me.

“We just need to sometimes relax, let it play and let it come.

“Sometimes when you force it, you become a bit disjointed.

“I’m a perfectionist and I always search for things we can do better.”

Gerrard is slowly getting used to management.

He admits: “It is very different from playing.

“You have to do an awful lot more thinking and preparation.Your focus as a player is to get yourself right.

“When you get older you become a leader and try to help others around you.

“It is individual as a player, but as a manager you have 23 players and you are preparing all week, all month and all season.

“You have to make big decisions and some of them have nothing to do with football.

“When I came out of the game, I said I missed that buzz and the weekend, fighting for important points and big competitions.

“I have that back now and I want to enjoy it and give it everything I have.

“I am driven by success. I know I am in a huge job at a big club, so I have to keep improving.”