FORMER Celtic star Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink says Rangers MUST get back to the Premiership for the sake of the Scottish game - even it means heartbreak for his old strike partner Scott McDonald.

The Dutchman, who spent three seasons at Parkhead, enjoyed the high of a famous Old Firm winner in March 2008 en route to the title and suffered the ignominy of a red card a few months later in a 4-2 defeat.

He feels it is crucial for Rangers to come through the play-off final against Motherwell ... although that won't sit too well with McDonald and fellow ex-Celts Stephen McManus and Stephen Pearson.

Vennegoor said: "If Rangers are in the Premiership the league becomes better, it attracts more investment and that is what you want. In Holland people don't look to the Scottish Premiership and they don't watch league games.

"However, the League Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers was broadcast, and that says enough about the attraction and pull of that fixture. I used to always watch the Old Firm games four times a season when I played in Holland.

"It wasn't just because of the football, but they watched it for the atmosphere and the tension.

"The Dutch people watched it though because it was always a big game and a great match to watch, even though the football wasn't so good sometimes. At the moment that is not happening.

"You want the biggest teams in the league and everybody wants to see those kind of games.

"Everybody wants to see the Champions League, too, but we all love football rivalries and this is the kind of game to make Scottish football known and creates great stories. I think most people in Scotland think about it in the same way."

The 36-year-old, however, knows that McDonald will be a dangerous player at Ibrox in tomorrow's play-off final first leg.

He added: "Scott will relish going to Ibrox. He has the experience of playing in big games like that.

"It's same for McManus and Pearson. Some experiences in football make you the player that you are.

"They can take it in this game and they are going to need that as it is a big game for both clubs.

"They know exactly what is at stake and, if something happens, they won't look like rabbits in the headlights.

"They will be strong and they will stand there and take it."