JOHN BROWN, the Rangers Nine in a Row legend, has insisted this would be the "perfect time" for his old team to test themselves against Celtic.

The two clubs were kept apart - twice - in the strange William Hill Scottish Cup draw, but there remains a possibility of them meeting in the semi-final.

Rangers still have a replay against Kilmarnock, with potentially either Dumbarton or Dundee due at Ibrox in the quarter-final, and there would be some of the Ibrox side's followers who would not welcome meeting Celtic just yet.

However, Brown would like an Old Firm match because he feels the gap between the sides has narrowed since they met in last year's League Cup semi-final.

Brown said: “I was at the East Kilbride-Celtic game and I know it’s hard for Celtic because it’s a no-win for them and people were expecting double figures, but I just felt they were lacking something.

“I don’t know if it’s just on the back of the two defeats and pressure building up on the manager, which does build, and if there was a time you wanted to get Celtic it would probably be now.

“It’s a totally different Rangers squad to last season. I would take the best team in Scotland at the moment to test the manager and the squad, to say ‘ this is what we really need’ or ‘that group of players can take us on if we get into the Premiership’.

"So it’s building up for having a strong enough squad to compete if Rangers go up, because they need to win the league."

Brown admitted that Rangers may have to take a few "sore ones" as they continue to rebuild, even if they do win promotion this season.

The former defender, who remains an icon among the supporters, believes money has to be found in the summer because Mark Warburton needs to strengthen his squad.

Brown said: “I think the manager has said that from next season he is looking for five new players and you could be adding more on in terms of back-up.

"Players you can rely upon to come in and put pressure on the starting eleven. They have been roughly the same guys all season. There has not been too many forcing their hands.

“So I think five could be six or seven if they want to be a force next season - if Rangers get to the Premier League."