MARTYN WAGHORN insists Rangers aren’t years behind Old Firm rivals Celtic as Pedro Caixinha prepares for his first crack at the Premiership crown next term.

The Light Blues saw their Scottish Cup dreams ended by Brendan Rodgers’ side last weekend and will bring the curtain down on a poor campaign in the coming weeks.

Rangers are 35 points adrift of Celtic heading into the final derby clash of the season at Ibrox this afternoon and are without a win in their previous five Old Firm fixtures.

Many have already written off the Gers’ chances of being able to mount a serious challenge to the Hoops next term as Caixinha gears up for a crucial summer spending spree.

But striker Waghorn believes the Ibrox side have to set their sights high as they attempt to end a miserable season on a positive note.

He said: “I read about it but I don’t think about it too much.

“At times, we have played very well against them. At the start of the season, don’t get me wrong, we were miles off it.

“We have shown over the course of the season that we have grown and got better and learned from it. I wouldn’t say we are years off them, no.

“Hopefully with a new manager, changes in the summer, that is probably going to happen, it will be another six months or so down the line.

“We should be challenging. Listen, we are Rangers, you can’t have years when you aren’t in the top flight.

“Hopefully we will be in Europe and we need to be competing on all front. Hopefully we are not years [behind], definitely not. I think we are not too far away.

“It is important that we build on the game at Parkhead, the chances that we had. We have created chances and it is important that we are bit more ruthless, both for myself and other players.

“It is important in these big games when you only get one or two chances and that could be the difference going forward.

“I think you have to, you have to challenge on all fronts, whether that is the title, the cups. We need to be there and there abouts.

“I have come here to win trophies and I know that is what I want to achieve. It is important that we come back next season after hopefully a good end to this one ready to get back at them.”

It is the battle to be best of the rest that Rangers have been involved in in recent months as Celtic have sauntered to six-in-a-row and to within 90 minutes of a domestic clean sweep this term.

The Gers are on course to clinch a return to the Europa League and will kick-off the new campaign with a qualifying clash on June 29.

Boss Caixinha has played down suggestions of discord amongst his squad about the short break they will receive this summer and Waghorn is eager to get back in action as quickly as possible.

He said: “There has been a lot made of that but it is dictated when you are back for European qualification.

“It is short, it is a quick turnaround but you just need to get your feet up and rest and get your head around it.

“It will be tough but you are here to play football and the chance to play in Europe, for me, is very exciting. I am looking forward to that.

“If we can get in, then something has to give and if that is a holiday then fair enough, it happens. I want to come back here and get into Europe, that is my challenge.”