Rangers victory over Hearts will indicate progress as title talk surfaces, says Graeme Murty

Graeme Murty believes victory over Hearts on Saturday would demonstrate the progress Rangers are making amid talk of a title challenge.

The Ibrox club are nine points behind Celtic, who have won the last six Scottish Premiership titles, ahead of the weekend's action which sees the top six all in action against each other.

Murty, who saw his side power to a 5-3 victory on the road against Hamilton last weekend, could cut the gap to their Glasgow rivals to six points ahead of the Hoops' visit to Aberdeen on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Football.

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Asked whether he had given up hope of mounting a challenge for the league title, Murty said: "I think if we win tomorrow [Saturday], we will say we are in a better position than when we walked in, and we are moving closer to where we want to be.

"We will finish where we deserve to finish at the end of the season, we will be the team we want to be or closer to where we want to be by the end of the season.

"This team is still coming together, we are still in a position that we are improving all the time. If we can carry on getting positive results who knows what might happen.

"I have said to the players to aim high, don't worry about anything else, just aim high, be as competitive as we can and have a positive end to the season."

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Murty's first game of his second spell of caretaker charge of Rangers was a trip to Tynecastle in October and Pedro Caixinha's replacement believes he is making his mark on the squad and allowing them to express their ability on the pitch.

When asked about his personal development as a manager over the past few months, he said: "I would like to say I am calmer, but that is just on the outside.

"I think my language has changed to the players, I am more confident dealing with them and telling them explicitly what I want and players want clarity.

"Other than that, I am still the same guy, I still see football in the same manner.

"I am possibly a little happier to take direct control but, as always, it will always be about facilitating the players being brilliant and trying to take a backward step and letting them get on with what they have to do."

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