STEVEN GERRARD has expressed his pride after a Covid depleted Rangers got over the line in the Europa League and earned Old Firm victory last month.

The Ibrox boss was ruled out of the trip to Armenia for the European qualifier with Alashkert and had to watch on in isolation as his side beat Celtic just days later.

Gary McAllister and Michael Beale took the team in Gerrard's absence as Rangers clinched a memorable derby victory despite seeing their ranks decimated as the likes of Allan McGregor and James Tavernier were ruled out.

The champions will be close to full strength for the Premiership clash with St Johnstone this afternoon and Gerrard is pleased to be back at the heart of the action ahead of the trip to Perth.

Gerrard said: "I think you’ve no choice but to cope. It’s not ideal and it’s not something I ever want to experience again.

"You know, I came here to manage from the sideline. I feel like I can be a bigger help from the sideline. I like to be hands on and I’m here for every session.

"I could still obviously contribute in terms of the preparation, picking the team and making the decisions. But to do that remotely can be frustrating.

"For me, the most pleasing thing – and what made me most proud – was how we all stuck together during challenging times.

"It wasn’t just me that was missing, it was a few other staff members and some players were ruled out as well. We were really tested to the maximum.

"But I thought Michael and Gary stepped forward tremendously well. And the players followed them.

"From the outside looking in, it showed the strength of us as a club, that we could deal with adversity.

"And, when we were pushed to the maximum, certainly in certain positions, we coped extremely well.

"Trying to look at the positives from those two weeks, rather than the negatives of being in bed with symptoms, feeling sorry for yourself, I actually had no choice but to cope and look on with it."