JIM WHITE has backed Rangers insisting that the Ibrox club are not a stepping stone to the Premier League in England.

The talkSPORT presenter battled his corner this morning as Martin Keown and Simon Jordan discussed Steven Gerrard's move to Aston Villa from Glasgow.

Arsenal legend Keown fully expects Gerrard to take on the Liverpool job from Jurgen Klopp if he continues to progress at Villa.

He said: “If Gerrard progresses as he is and starts well, he could take that job at Liverpool."

White then responded: “Having said that, Rangers would argue they’re no building block for anyone. Rangers is not a passing-through place for anybody.”

Keown then added: “No, but I’m afraid they are Jim, I think they are.”

Ex-Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan then weighed in, saying: “It clearly is, unfortunately, tragically.”

White then added: “Down here you lot think that.”

Gerrard has been nominated alongside Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola for the November manager of the month award in the Premier League.

The former Rangers boss switched back to England at the start of the month and he went on to win his first two games in charge of new club Villa.

Gerrard's team started off December with a narrow defeat to Manchester City, but they competed well and were unlucky not to take a point from the clash at Villa Park.