CRAIG MOORE reckons the timing of Giovanni van Bronckhorst's arrival at Rangers has boosted the champions' chances of retaining their Premiership crown this term.

Van Bronckhorst was appointed as Steven Gerrard's successor as manager in November and has yet to lose a match in charge of his former club after an impressive start at home and abroad.

Rangers hold a six-point lead over Celtic in the title race and nine-in-a-row hero Moore is encouraged by what he has seen in the first weeks of Van Bronckhorst's tenure.

"I think sometimes in football timing just works, Steven Gerrard got that opportunity to go down south and Rangers now have the opportunity and they've brought in Giovanni van Bronckhorst," Moore told Sky Sports News.

"He knows the football club, but more importantly has a decent level of experience with success at Feyenoord as well.

"The changes he's made to the team I think have been really clear. There's a better balance, you won't see both full-backs bombing on at the same time."

Rangers will aim to pick up where they left off in the Premiership when the top flight resumes business later this month at the end of the rescheduled winter break.

A trip to Aberdeen is first on the fixture list for Van Bronckhorst's side and Rangers will travel to Parkhead for the second Old Firm clash of the campaign on February 2.

Moore said: "As a former player, I'm thinking it is brilliant to get those tough games and go and win them.

"What confidence that gives you to really go and finish the season strongly. I think that's exactly how Rangers will be thinking.

"They want those tough games, they want to go and get those wins and I think that puts fear through the league. I'm still with Rangers to win the title."