THE question that every Rangers fan will be asking this week is this: Can Steven Gerrard’s side can win the Premiership title this season?

For me, all you can say right now is that they have to challenge Celtic and take it as far as possible. I think it is a tough ask for Rangers to win the league.

Celtic will add to their double Treble side and will get even stronger and they will be looking to emulate what they have done over the last two seasons.

Read more: James Tavernier says Rangers are in it to win it as he aims to challenge on all fronts

So Rangers just have to look to push them all the way, and hopefully get a bit of silverware back in the cabinet as well. That would be progression for Steven Gerrard in his first campaign as a manager.

There has to be an improvement from last season and the signs already are that there will be when you see the players that have come in and the approach from the manager.

I think Steven will be judged on whether he can win something this year, whether that is the league or one of the cups. There has to be a bit of silverware.

The league is obviously the most important one and it is not until that next title is won that you can say Rangers are back to where they were and where they feel they should be.

Success is what every Rangers team of the past has been judged on and that is what this side will be judged on this year.

They haven’t won any silverware since they returned to the Premiership. When the time comes, and I do believe it will come soon, that is when you can say Rangers are back.

Read more: James Tavernier says Rangers are in it to win it as he aims to challenge on all fronts

It is about progression year on year and winning the league, of course, or winning the League Cup or Scottish Cup would show a definite progression this season.

The worst case scenario for Rangers this season is that they finish closest to Celtic and get a winner’s medal in the cups.

You have to look to push Celtic all the way, stay with them for as long as possible and put them under a bit of pressure. They are coming into the season with the expectation that they will win the league so they have got that to deal with.

They have got some really good players, but if they hit a bit of a slump then Rangers need to be in a position to capitalise on that and either close the gap or create one for themselves.

The first four games against Aberdeen, St Mirren, Motherwell and Celtic are massive and could set the tone for Rangers. Getting off to a good start is so important in any season.

With Steven Gerrard now in place, Rangers will have a different style and a different mentality and I am sure Brendan Rodgers will have an eye on them. You always take notice of what your rivals are doing but Celtic will be concentrating on themselves and they know what they need to do.

They have a young, exciting squad with a host of players that can win games so they just need to avoid complacency this season.

Read more: James Tavernier says Rangers are in it to win it as he aims to challenge on all fronts

It will be interesting to see how they handle the new challenge from Rangers now that Steven is the manager.

He is known worldwide, he has a got presence about him and he carries himself well and speaks well. He sets high standards both on and off the park.

It is refreshing to see the Rangers manager having such an appeal and now it is all about the results as he prepares for the first game. And what a first game it is.

From Steven’s point of view, there is no better way to start the season than being away to Aberdeen, away to Motherwell and away to Celtic and it is a chance for Rangers to go and lay a marker down.

If Rangers could make a good start over the first month, that would really give them some momentum.

It is all about getting a good start and laying down a marker and there would be no better way of doing that than going up to Aberdeen and winning on Sunday.

If you can do that and then you can follow it up against St Mirren at home and at Fir Park, then you go into the first Old Firm game with a bit of belief and confidence.

You have a wee bit of momentum behind you and you are preparing for a game that will show where this new-look side are at that moment in time.

Read more: James Tavernier says Rangers are in it to win it as he aims to challenge on all fronts

The fans have obviously been really excited since Steven was appointed and that will only build with each win that he earns.

The performances have been good overall so far and the supporters will be pleased with the goals and the clean sheets from the first couple of games.

They won’t get carried away about what Rangers can achieve this year but they have every right to be looking forward to the new season. Hopefully their expectations are met.