LEE McCulloch today revealed how watching Rangers greats Andy Gray and Mark Hateley in action from the Ibrox stands inspired him to hone his heading ability.

Gers captain McCulloch has terrorised opposition defences both home and away this season due to his astonishing aerial prowess at set-pieces.

Indeed, the 35-year-old has netted six goals with his head so far in the 2013/14 campaign - despite playing at centre-half.

And he also set up the opening strike in the 3-0 triumph over Queen of the South in the Ramsdens Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night with his napper.

McCulloch, who scored late on at Palmerston Park to take his personal haul for the season to eight, has worked hard on his expertise in the air.

However, the lifelong Rangers fan still reckons he has some way to go before he can match the feats of two of his boyhood heroes - Gray and Hateley. Those two players are among the finest headers of a ball to play for the Glasgow club in its entire 141-year history.

Former Aston Villa, Wolves and Everton star Gray was at the tail-end of his distinguished career when he played for Rangers.

But his goals helped the Gers, then managed by Graeme Souness, win the title in 1999 and his play left a lasting impression on one young fan.

As did the brilliance of English hitman Hateley who bagged a barrowload of goals in the air during the Nine-In-A-Row era.

"Andy Gray was a hero of mine when I was a boy and I watched him play for the club in the season he was here," said McCulloch.

"Obviously, the gaffer (Ally McCoist) was a big hero of mine when I was a kid growing up. But Andy Gray and Mark Hateley were definitely two guys I looked up to.

"I think as a kid you are always looking at these guys and seeing what they do and how they go about their business and trying to copy it.

"Both Andy and Mark were fantastic players in the air and I think that perhaps helped me to work hard on that aspect of my game as a kid."

He added: "I'm not comparing myself to either of those guys for a minute! I am just happy to get some goals and help the club win games.

"I actually haven't ever really considered myself a particularly good header of the ball as such. I just work on every part of my game in training from Monday to Friday."

Former Motherwell player McCulloch first started to score goals on a regular basis with his head during his successful six-year stint down south in England with Wigan Athletic.

His Scotland team-mate Gary Teale and Ecuadorian star Antonio Valenica were both providers for him during his six seasons down south.

He said: "When I was at Wigan I got a lot of joy out of playing in the air. I was out on the left of midfield and I would get good service and would chip in with goals.

"I would get great diagonal balls from Tony Valencia, who is at Manchester United now, and Gary Teale, who, of course, is at St Mirren now.

"But what I do and how I score doesn't really mean anything. I am obviously delighted to get some goals. But the main thing is that the team is winning in the league and picking up points."

McCulloch and his Rangers team-mates are not short of outstanding service at the moment with both Nicky Law and Arnold Peralta enjoying fine form.

Peralta, the Honduran international who only made his competitive debut for the club at the weekend, has been especially impressive.

He set up two of his skipper's goals in the 5-1 win over League One rivals Arbroath at the weekend with precise deliveries into the penalty area.

McCulloch, who remained loyal to Rangers despite them dropping down to the fourth tier of Scottish football, has been pleased to see the new arrivals flourish.

And as he began preparations for the league meeting with Forfar Athletic - the team who defeated them in the League Cup this season - at Station Park on Sunday he predicted they would get better.

He said: "The new players have come in and made a real difference to us. But I think you can see with the new boys that they need a few games to improve their match sharpness.

"Arnold, for example, has come in and done fantastically. I think he is the sort of player who the fans will take to and will enjoy watching play.

"But he needs to build up his match fitness. He has also been away on international duty. When he settles and gets used to his new surroundings he will go from strength to strength for us I am sure."