GARY MCALLISTER reckons Steven Gerrard is proving he can lead by example from the touchline during his first weeks as Rangers boss.

The 38-year-old has made an impressive start to his managerial career as the Gers have progressed to the play-off round of the Europa League and performed well domestically.

Gerrard’s lack of experience as a gaffer was seen as a major negative when he was appointed at Ibrox in May and put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal.

But assistant manager McAllister, who played and worked with the former England captain at Liverpool, never had any fears about his ability to inspire those around him this term.

He said: “I wasn’t quick to push people back when that question arose and the fact was he didn’t have experience of managing at this level.

“But you have got to remember that he was a leader for club and country for a long time and basically carried Liverpool for loads of seasons. He managed on the pitch and that is at the coalface and where you really manage, when you are on the pitch.

“That will be with him forever and you can’t take away the fact he captained Liverpool for many years, captained his country and played for them over 100 times. Managing people and leading is something he has done and that is just fact.”

Rangers have taken four points from their first two Premiership fixtures with Aberdeen and St Mirren this term and saw off Kilmarnock in the Betfred Cup on Sunday.

It is the Europa League that will take centre stage once again this week, however, as Russian side Ufa make the trip to Glasgow for the play-off round first leg.

Rangers have overcome Shkupi, Osijek and Maribor to move to within touching distance of the group stages and McAllister is determined to bring the big European nights back to Ibrox at the first attempt.

He said: “That is where the hunger and desire lies because if we do manage to make it there are some fantastic teams in this competition.

“It is a very tough competition to do well in because of the quality of the teams we could be up against but it puts Rangers back on the map.

“We all associate Rangers, and I hope that is why players come to play here, with big games under the floodlights at Ibrox against one of the big clubs from Serie A or La Liga.”