IAN MCCALL believes Rangers are already good enough to challenge for a top three berth in the Premiership. Mark Warburton’s side will face McCall’s Ayr United at Somerset Park this evening aiming for their fifth win in five competitive outings after victories over Hibernian, Peterhead, St Mirren and Alloa so far this term.

The form and style of play in the opening weeks of the campaign is in stark contrast to what the Ibrox crowd had to endure in recent years as Rangers toiled in the lower leagues. Those abject performances and results came against the backdrop of a series of problems off the park as boardroom battles dominated the agenda.

With a new board, new management and host of new players in place, there is a far different outlook across the board at Ibrox now, however. Ayr will look to temporarily halt the Rangers momentum but McCall reckons the picture is far more pleasant at all levels.

“I’ve been through it all at Clydebank and Morton and went through a hard situation at Dundee United so I know a bit about it, but imagine that magnified to the extent of Rangers in recent years?,” he said. “We probably only know the tip of what went on at Ibrox.

“I know some of the things and it was almost impossible and I think it’s great there is a freshness about it and the people in charge seem decent and they want to do the right thing because we need a strong Rangers.

“On the park they look so much stronger and very well organised. I would say the team they’ve got right now would be up there competing in the top three or four in the Scottish Premiership.

“I think Celtic are a bit ahead but it would be a good game against Aberdeen. They look to be a wee bit ahead. I haven’t seen Hearts but undoubtedly Rangers would be challenging for Europe which makes it pretty hard for us at Somerset Park.”

Rangers fans have already bought into the Warburton way as they have seen their side net 17 goals in their four competitive outings and turn in a series of impressive performances.

McCall saw the Gers at close hand earlier this summer as strikes from David Templeton and Jason Holt clinched a friendly win at Murray Park and the 50-year-old has been impressed with the impact Warburton and assistant manager David Weir have made thus far.

“Davie obviously shares the same thoughts as Mark on how they want to play the game,” he said. “He’s the one who knows all about Rangers having been there during a successful period and he’s just a really good person. I think that’s one thing Rangers needed, people with a bit of stature. I’m sure he’s got a big say in training.

“I’ve been on the phone to him two or three times, talking about a couple of loan players but I went to see them and the ones I wanted there was no chance of getting.

“Mark’s story is really interesting, his background and how he came through. He’s obviously got really strong views on how he wants his team to play and I think it’s great.

“They’re looking really strong and fit. They won’t change how they play, it’s pretty easy to see how they want to play but stopping it is a different thing. They beat us 2-0 at Murray Park but it could have been six or seven.”