STEVEN GERRARD insists Jordan Jones and George Edmundson will owe their Rangers team-mates an explanation after their Covid rule breaks on Sunday.

Jones and Edmundson have been suspended by Rangers after they attended a house party and breached Government and club Coronavirus guidance.

Both players are now fighting to save their Gers careers and could face further punishment from the Scottish FA as Hampden chiefs launch an investigation.

Gerrard’s side extended their advantage over Celtic to nine points with a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend and the Jones and Edmundson drama comes as attentions should have been fully focused on the Europa League clash with Benfica.

Gerrard told RangersTV: “Now, for me, it is important that we focus back on the football. The team and the squad are in a fantastic place, playing well.

“The players at the weekend put in a fantastic performance and the headlines after that game should have been of positivity and praise of individuals and the collective effort they gave in that game.

“Two players have taken those headlines and praise away from the team and the squad and the media is littered with negativity now.

“Moving forward we need to forget about this and focus on Benfica, which will be a very tough game and then we will go on from there.

“I have not had a chance yet to speak to James or the leadership group. I will be catching up with them very soon and we will obviously speak about it and then decide what to do from there.

“As I say, it is an internal situation now that the club will deal with. The players are going to have to take their medicine and take their punishment like men.

“And I am sure, at some point, they are going to have to give their team-mates an explanation. And then we will obviously focus back on the football.”