RANGERS legend John Brown last night insisted this would be the “perfect time” for his old club to face stuttering Celtic.

The Nine in a Row icon was at the chaotic William Hill Scottish Cup draw at Hampden Park when, bizarrely, there were two occasions for an Old Firm game to be pulled out the hat.

There is still a chance for that to happen in the semi-final. Celtic should see off Morton, while the Ibrox men have a replay against Kilmarnock to deal with, and then it’s either Dumbarton or Dundee in the quarter-final.

And Brown, now a Rangers ambassador, would not fear Celtic even if he believes Mark Warburton's squad is someway short of being good enough to cope in the Premiership.

Brown said: “I was at the East Kilbride-Celtic game and I know it’s hard for Celtic because it’s a no-win for them and people were expecting double figures, but I just felt they were lacking something.

“I don’t know if it’s just on the back of the two defeats and pressure building up on the manager, which does build, and if there was a time you wanted to get Celtic it would probably be now.

“It’s a totally different Rangers squad to last season. I would take the best team in Scotland at the moment to test the manager and the squad, to say ‘this is what we really need’ or ‘that group of players can take us on if we get into the Premiership’.

"So it’s building up for having a strong enough squad to compete if Rangers go up, because they need to win the league."

While Brown is a lot happier with how Rangers look this season, he knows the squad will need strengthened if promotion is clinched.

He has yet to meet Mark Warburton, but likes the cut of the manager, even if many more signings have to be made in the summer – if the money is there.

Brown said: “I think the manager has said that from next season he is looking for five new players and you could be adding more on in terms of back-up.

"Players you can rely upon to come in and put pressure on the starting eleven. They have been roughly the same guys all season. There has not been too many forcing their hands.

“So I think five could be six or seven if they want to be a force next season - if Rangers get to the Premier League,

Brown sees better times ahead for the club, but is realistic and knows that it may be a few seasons before Rangers are challenging at the top of the Premiership.

He said: “If you get promoted, the season tickets sales will go up and there are directors investing in the club.

"But it’s going to be a few years. What has happened at the club, and everyone knows, has been shocking.

“The revenue dried up from that point of view and maybe it will take time and maybe we won’t have that money for a few years.

"It might be a case of building it up and we might have to take a sore one now and again.”