JAMIE Murphy last night insisted the Rangers squad is strong enough to enjoy a successful season even if manager Steven Gerrard is unable to bring in any more players before the transfer window closes.

The Ibrox club had a £200,000 offer for their former striker Kyle Lafferty turned down by Hearts on Friday morning and a move for Manchester City defender Kean Bryan also collapsed.

The pursuit of Lafferty, the Northern Ireland internationalist who won three Scottish titles during his time in Glasgow, is set to continue this week.

But Murphy, whose loan move from Brighton to his boyhood heroes became permanent this summer, is confident Rangers can challenge for silverware with the personnel Gerrard has at his disposal.

The former Liverpool and England captain has made six permanent signings – including Scott Arfield, Jon Flanagan, Connor Goldson and Allan McGregor – and brought in four players on loan since taking charge last month.

“I am sure that if we don’t sign anyone else we will be more then capable with the players that we have got,” said Murphy. “If we do sign another couple then great. But the boys have been training hard and are ready to go.

“From what the boys have said about the start of last season it wasn’t very good. I wasn’t here to say either way. When the new manager has come in we have got a good feeling from the training. What we have to take from that is to try and win every game.”

Murphy played out wide as Rangers beat NK Osijek 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League qualifying tie in Croatia on Thursday night.

The Scotland winger is hopeful that doing well in Europe can set the Ibrox club up for a good 2018/19 campaign – in the same way that they embarrassing defeat to Progres Niederkorn of Luxembourg last year set the tone for a disastrous season.

“It was a big thing for us to get through the first round against Shkupi of Macedonia after last year,” he said. “There was a little bit of a mental block after that game last year. And it was mentioned a few times before that. I think that was a really big game for us. Obviously as a team they weren't that brilliant, but to just to win that game and get through it was a big thing compared to last year.

“You could see you get a bit of confidence from that first tie even though they weren't greatest team in the world and go no to get a good result the other night we just have to keep that going.

“It's a big game Thursday. I think they were a better team that a lot of people thought. They put PSV Eindhoven out last year. But there's a chance there if we get through for more games in Europe, which is what the club wants and want the fans want.”