Steven Gerrard wants to bring loan stars to Rangers permanently

STEVEN GERRARD last night revealed he wants to bring four of Rangers’ loan stars to Ibrox permanently.

Liverpool pair Ryan Kent and Ovie Ejaria, Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall, and Lassana Coulibaly of French outfit, Angers, have all impressed the Light Blues boss since arriving in the summer.

Now he wants to tie them up on long-term deals – and hinted that work to do so may already have begun.

When asked if there was scope in January to make loan stays permanent, Gerrard joked: “Are you bugging my phone?

“We have to be respectful to their parent clubs.

“The three players you’ve mentioned – and Joe Worrall in time will be added to your list, he’s already on mine – are players we’ve gone for because we rate them very highly.

“Three of them have settled really well.

“Joe had a really tough debut against Villareal but came through it very well.

“In an ideal situation, they are all on four or five-year deals, but unfortunately it doesn’t work like that.

“I’m still in Jurgen Klopp’s good books for the foreseeable future and Liverpool keep winning, so maybe there is some scope.

“We rate them very highly.

“If you’re asking me if I’d want the four of them for next year, I’d sign for the four of them right now.”

Another player Gerrard has no doubts about is Andy Halliday.

His return to form and favour continued in midweek as the Gers earned an impressive Europa League draw with Villareal.

Having been out in the cold just months ago, Halliday is now a vital cog in Gerrard’s machine.

So much so, the Ibrox boss has bestowed a unique, dressing-room honour upon him.

“I love Andy Halliday,” said Gerrard.

“When I came in, there was a list of players – some had ticks, some had question marks and some had crosses.

“It was important to see them close up, eye-to-eye, in a couple of sessions to see if they had the ability or the level.

“At the same time, you are looking at them off the pitch to see what type of character they are.

“Andy Halliday has been perfect since day one.

“It was a bit of a shock, really, from what I had heard or read.

“He’s almost like a captain in the dressing room. In fact, he is the unofficial captain of this club – he glues everything together.

“He helps the foreign lads a lot, and he’s someone who cares about the club, and you need these people about.”

Gerrard continued: “It would be naïve of me – at any stage of my life – to judge someone with other people’s opinions.

“I think Andy, in his head, thought he was gone and not wanted. He probably felt the new manager would come in and not want him.

“From the very first training session to the final whistle in Spain on Thursday night, he has given absolutely everything.

“I can’t fault him off the pitch either – he’s been magnificent.”

Rangers return to Premiership action against St Johnstone today as they embark upon the gruelling, two-games-per-week schedule demanded by Europa League participation.

Saints boss Tommy Wright reckons the Gers have a strong enough squad to cope.
Gerrard agrees – though he accepts there is a mental challenge involved that players new to the routine may have to get used to.

“I was fine for it,” he said, recalling his playing days on the European stage with Liverpool.

“I was a player who liked to play in repeated games.

“Without disrespecting training, I’d rather have three games a week than two and train for five days.

“The squad, in terms of volume, is big enough now, if we can keep players fit and healthy and get players back.

“Ejaria’s knocking on the door, Dorrans was back in on Thursday night, Rossiter is close.

“If we can keep them healthy, the squad’s in a good place right now.

“Gareth McAuley is not far away, which gives another option.

“In terms of squad size we can cope.

“But the players mentally have to understand that when I take them out the team, they are not getting dropped.”