GROWING up in Liverpool, all Aaron McGowan wanted to be was Steven Gerrard. The Anfield captain was his idol, and remains so, and the Hamilton full-back is hoping that one day the prodigal son returns home to step into the dugout for his beloved Reds.

Before that though, the full-back is determined to throw a bump or two in what might be Gerrard’s long road back to Merseyside by helping Accies to victory over Rangers this afternoon.

There will be respect, both for Gerrard and his achievements as a player as well as for the standard of his opponent in Rangers, but certainly no fear from Brian Rice’s side at the Hope CBD Stadium this afternoon.

“What does Steven Gerrard mean to me? Well, not a lot on Sunday,” said McGowan. “But growing up, he was my idol. I'm a Liverpool supporter and when I was young everyone around me wanted to be Steven Gerrard.

“It's a weird thing that I'm coming up against him but I'll put it aside just for Sunday. I'm just glad he's not playing. I'd still back him to do a job for them.

“He's done well since going in there and Rangers are a top team at this level. They're not weak in any area but it's up to us to show a will to win. Our manager doesn't want us to sit off so it'll be an interesting game and hopefully a good watch.

“Most people will say their favourite Gerrard moment was the Istanbul goal in the Champions League final. But leading up to that, mine was the Olympiacos goal when we were down and out. He hit that half-volley into the far-right corner and that was it for me. I was only eight so growing up, he was my hero. That's what every Liverpool lad wanted to do. Even a few Everton fans would have wanted to be Gerrard.

“I've met him a few times. When I come up here, I was with my agent in a cafe up the west end. He came in for a coffee but he knew my agent so we spoke. I'm a bit older so I'm not a fan-boy now.

“Growing up, I met him a few times as well just as a fan, about four times. I got photos with him as a kid on numerous occasions. But all of that will be put to one side on Sunday.

“I'd love him to be Liverpool manager one day. It's certainly something I'd buy into. He's among the managers most supporters would want to take that job if it becomes available.”

While McGowan is glad not to be facing Gerrard as a player, he knows that his direct opponent on the Rangers left, on-loan Liverpool winger Ryan Kent, will present a formidable enough challenge.

“Kent is a top player, he's probably up there in the top three in this league,” he said. “But I know what I'm capable of. I've played against him before and I fully back myself against him. I'm not naïve but if I want to kick on and do well, I have to do it against good players.

“I'll treat Ryan with respect but not too much. He's a tricky player, he's flying at the minute, but I do a lot of research on the wingers I'm up against. Hopefully I can use that to play well on Sunday.”

McGowan’s manager Rice, one of the most positive characters in the game, isn’t even contemplating the possibility of his side failing to take anything from today’s meeting.

The 55-year-old is loving life as a manager after a long career as an assistant, and if his team do fall short today, it won’t be down to a lack of effort on his part.

“I’ve not got any time to myself, it’s great, it’s brilliant,” Rice said. “I don’t like time to myself. The time to myself I get is when I’m sitting in the car making journeys to games.

“[On Tuesday] I trained, I went up to St Andrews to watch the kids and then I went up to Inverness to watch the cup tie, drove back last night and then I was in here first thing. That’s my time to relax, my time to think things over in the peace and quiet. When you’re in the car you don’t need to answer your phone if you don’t want to, somebody can’t chap your door asking ‘can I see you gaffer?’ So, I’m loving it.

“Football is my life. Every night I’ll be at games if they are on. It’s my livelihood and it always has been, I just love watching football and I’d go anywhere to watch football. You might see something, you might not see something, but I’d rather be doing that than be sitting in the house watching the TV.”