McGregor is going to break the club’s record for European appearances

Steven Gerrard

believes

goalkeeper

Allan McGregor

deserves to break the club’s record for European appearances.

His former teammate

Barry Ferguson

has made 82 appearances and now McGregor is on his way to break the club’s record and make his 83rd continental appearance in the

Group D match against

on Thursday.

Rangers boss Gerrard said: “His consistency levels from day one have been at a really high level and Allan deserves to break this record.

“I’m really pleased for him, we are all proud of him here. He has never let us down and he is someone we are extremely happy with.

“To take the record off someone like Barry Ferguson who has an incredible legacy at the club, should be a proud day for both.

“I am sure Allan will be very grateful to take the baton from Barry but I am sure Barry will be very proud as well because they played together and they are two fantastic servants for the club.

“He (McGregor) is certainly up there alongside the best I have played with in terms of how he goes about his business on a daily basis.

“His standards are top and it certainly helps my job when there are people in the dressing room that help relay the message and basically set the standards themselves.”

When McGregor was asked about his new record, he answered:

“At the moment I am just concentrating on the game but probably it will take until later in life to realize what an achievement it is.

“Obviously it is a very proud one and just to be part of the history will be unbelievable.”

Ranger top the Group D table along with Benfica with eight points from four games and with Lech Poznan and Standard Liege both with three points.

On matchday one, Rangers won 2-0 Standard Liege and now Gerrard is looking to beat them again.

“The next challenge is Standard Liege, a very good and dangerous team,” he said.

“But tomorrow night is a fantastic opportunity for us to qualify for the second season on the spin and that’s the challenge and the only one we should focus on.”

Gerrard also admitted that he was not aware of the former chairman Dave King offering fans’ group Club 1872 the opportunity to buy his shares so they could strengthen their position at the club.

He said: “I don’t think much changes for me in terms of the dynamics and how things work.

“Obviously Dave stepped aside some time ago. My relationship with Dave is really strong, we are still in constant dialogue although what I will say is yesterday’s news was new to me. I didn’t have any idea that was going to break.

“So I haven’t had time to read up about it or educate myself if you like on what could happen in the short, medium, or long term.

“I suppose it is a positive from what I have heard so far in terms of the fans getting closer and giving them more ownership if you like.

“But I will leave that to the suits and the businessmen to do the right thing by Rangers.

“For me on a daily basis, nothing really changes but I am sure when I have future chats with Ross (Wilson, sporting director) and Stewart (Robertson, managing director) and the board, I will be brought up to speed with exactly what is going on in the short, medium and long term.”

Follow

for the