Ovie Ejaria is relishing the possibility of helping Rangers ascend to the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table next weekend, and the 21-year-old is confident the Ibrox team can stay there if they make it.
Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Livingston at Ibrox, which was Rangers’ 10th league game unbeaten at home this season, hoisted Steven Gerrard’s team into second place in the table and just two points behind reigning champions Celtic.
Rangers make the trip east to Edinburgh to face a stuttering Hearts at Tynecastle next weekend and a victory would see them rise to the top of the league with Celtic involved in the Betfred Cup final against Aberdeen on the same day.
It would be a sizeable statement of intent from Rangers and Ejaria, the on-loan Liverpool youngster, is eager for his team-mates to exploit the opportunity and take up the baton as frontrunners in the race for the championship title.
He said: “If we win next week it would be a big confidence boost for us. Could we stay there? Yes, definitely but we have to take each game and use the confidence from each match.”
Asked if he could see title-winning potential in the current Rangers side, Ejaria added: “Yes, definitely. There are a lot of top players here and everyone is focused and that’s our goal.
“It’s quite close at the top. We know Celtic are a very good side and we’re a very good side as well so we’re confident we can do really well.
“I’m not too sure how they’ll see it [if Rangers go top] but we see it as a big opportunity and everyone is really focused. Our main goal is to try and win the league.”
Before the Hearts match, Rangers have a crucial Europa League encounter with Spanish side Villarreal on Thursday night as Gerrard’s men look to continue the push for honours on two fronts.
Rangers have lost just one of their 12 European ties this season and are unbeaten at home.
Ejaria said: “We can beat them, especially at home with the support behind us. We know they are a top side but with the support and the confidence we have at the moment we are positive and believe we could get a very good result.
“ I missed the last game in Spain with injury. I was getting treatment back here and I had to watch it on television.
“Of course, that was frustrating because as a player you want to perform in every match but sometimes these things happen and it’s about how you react.”
Report. Pages 2, 3
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