SIR Kenny Dalglish has urged his fellow Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to sign Scottish players for Rangers this summer - and boost the national team’s chances of future success.

Gerrard, whose team went undefeated in the Premiership in the 2020/21 campaign and won the Scottish title for the first time in 10 years, has already started his close season recruitment drive.

Bournemouth midfielder Nnamdi Ofoborh and Oostende striker Fashion Sakala have been signed on pre-contract agreements and will be in the Ibrox first team squad next term.

There are sure to be several more new arrivals in Govan in the coming weeks as Rangers strive to boost their chances of reaching the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2010.

Sir Kenny has been delighted at how well Gerrard, who was named Scottish Football Writers Association and PFA Scotland Manager of the Year, has done in the past 10 months.

However, Scotland’s record cap holder and joint record goalscorer would like to see more of his countrymen featuring in the Englishman’s team both domestically and in Europe going forward.

Ryan Jack has been a regular starter in midfield when fit during the past three seasons and teenage right back Nathan Patterson also got an extended run when James Tavernier picked up an injury.

Elsewhere, Scott Wright, who moved from Aberdeen to Rangers in February, featured in 13 games in all competitions in the second half of the season.

But Sir Kenny feels it will be beneficial to Scotland’s chances of building on their Euro 2020 qualification and reaching the Qatar 2022 finals if more of his compatriots were involved.

Jack, who started in both of the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final and final wins last year, is currently recovering from calf surgery and will miss the tournament.

Patterson is the only Rangers outfield player in Clarke’s 26 man squad and it will be a surprise if he starts the Group D matches against the Czech Republic, England and Croatia ahead of Stephen O’Donnell of Motherwell.

In stark contrast, Celtic, who finished the season trophyless will have six players, Ryan Christie, James Forrest, Jack Hendry, Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor and David Turnbull, at the finals. 

“Stevie has done a fantastic job,” said Sir Kenny. “I think the squad that he’s getting to pick from is getting stronger and deeper the longer we go on.

“There are more boys playing at the top level in the Premier League in England than what there was before when he came in. I think we’re heading positively in the right direction.

“As a manager, it makes it pleasantly more difficult that you’ve got more people to choose from than what you had before and players of a greater quality, with all due respect to the people that were there before.

“The stronger the depth of the squad, the better chance you have of being successful. As a manager, if you’ve got that, then it comes back to you.  You’ve got to select the right team and you’ve got to get a bit of luck along the way to get the positive results.

“The players now, there are four or five who are first choices in the Premier League. It’s a while since we’ve had that and that’s good going forward. They’re playing at a higher level

“Rangers are the best team in Scotland by far at the moment. Steven’s got a few English and foreign players in there which doesn’t help us and. But in saying that, Celtic still have a couple of boys playing for Scotland.

“Steven could do with signing another couple of Scottish players to get them in the Rangers team that might improve their performances as well.”