STEVEN Gerrard doesn’t look back on his playing career with many regrets. Failing to triumph in the Premier League with Liverpool is perhaps one. Not doing better in European Championship and World Cup finals with England possibly another.

But the Rangers manager, who has Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, FA Cup and League Cup winners’ medals in his trophy cabinet, achieved just about everything else that he could with both club and country.

He certainly, however, rues his decision to hang up his boots four years ago after a final season with MLS franchise LA Galaxy in the United States.

The former midfielder is enjoying life immensely at Ibrox at the moment. His side has won both of their Europa League group games and will be looking to increase their lead over Celtic at the top of the Premiership to nine points this afternoon with a victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. However, it just isn’t the same.

“I played until I was 36,” said Gerrard. “But I wish I had played a little bit longer because you miss it. I certainly did. They’re the best days of your life. Coaching and management are nowhere near as good as it, let me tell you.”

Steven Davis is fast approaching the age that his manager was when he called it a day. But the Liverpool and England great has urged the Northern Ireland legend to rule out retirement for the foreseeable future. “My advice to him is to play as long as you can,” he said.

It is little wonder he is so keen for Davis to continue; the 122-times capped player has been performing to a high standard on a weekly basis despite his advancing years.

The former Aston Villa and Fulham footballer struggled initially when he returned to Rangers on loan from Southampton in January last year after an extended spell on the periphery at the St Mary's Stadium. But Gerrard always expected him to come good.

“I think there was a valid reason for his slow start,” he said. “He hadn’t played much football towards the end of his Southampton stay. I don’t think anyone has ever doubted his ability and his quality. As a human being he’s top, very professional. He’s really confident at the moment.”

The same, though, is true of so many Rangers players just now. Gerrard knows the experience of squad members like Davis has been a major reason his side has gone undefeated in 17 matches at home and abroad.

“I’m very proud and happy with the all the leaders in the leadership group,” he said. “You look at (Connor) Goldson, (Allan) McGregor, (Scott) Arfield, (James) Tavernier, all the players that are maybe a little bit older and have been around a little bit longer. They really set the standards for the younger lads to follow. I’m really pleased with them.”

Rangers, unlike Celtic and many of their other domestic and continental opponents, haven’t had a single player ruled out by coronavirus this season and that has enabled them to maintain their consistency at home and abroad. However, Gerrard dismisses suggestions that luck has played a major role in their run.

“If you want to call it luck, call it luck, but I think in this game you have to make your own luck,” he said. “We’ve had some bad luck with injuries this year, I don’t think you can forget that. We had Joe Aribo out for eleven weeks, we had Kemar Roofe out for five weeks.

“We’ve had to deal with injuries and suspensions all the way through my tenure here at Rangers. At the moment we’re in good health and shape but I think there’s going to be challenges ahead where we have to face these things and get on with it. In terms of football, you make your own luck.”

Rangers have beaten Celtic at Parkhead as many times as they have overcome Kilmarnock at Rugby Park since they returned to the Premiership four years ago. Gerrard knows they could easily suffer their first loss this term if they fail to perform at their best this afternoon.

“We treat every game and opposition the same, whether it be domestically or in Europe,” he said. “You have to respect all the opponents and challenges that are coming your way.

“At times, we’ve been disappointed and come away from there frustrated because the way we’ve actually played we’ve felt we deserved more. We’ve been in control on quite a few occasions and then the momentum has changed and the crowd has got behind them. I wouldn’t say they’ve stolen points off us but they’ve managed to knock us out of our stride.

“We know it’s a tricky game and our record is not as good as it should have been but it’s a clean, different game and we’re going there in good form. I’m confident if we perform to our level and what we’re capable of then it can be enough.”