MX23RW : Monday, May 13 12:39:28| >> :600:4110640:4110640:

Steven Davis eyeing return to Champions League with Rangers

The Rangers veteran is out of contract at the end of the season.

Steven Davis insists retirement is not an option as he eyes a Champions League return with Rangers next season.

The 36-year-old's Ibrox deal expires this summer, but he has no plans to hang up his boots.

Instead, the Northern Ireland skipper is hoping to help lead Gers back into the group stages of Europe's premier club competition for the first time in 11 years.

Davis was a UEFA Cup finalist with Walter Smith's side back in 2008 and also a member of the last Gers squad to make it into the Champions League proper back in 2011.

And he would love another crack at the competition next term.

"Reaching the Champions League would be massive for everybody and the players are no different," he said. "It's the stage you want to play on and to get another taste of that at my age would be very nice.

"I don't tend to look too far ahead. I feel good at the minute and as you can clearly see I'm enjoying my football. How could you not with the season we've had so far?

"So I don't see myself finishing up at the end of the season."

Gers boss Steven Gerrard has already made it clear he will wait until his side have wrapped up the title before opening talks on new contracts.

That could come as early as Sunday after the Light Blues closed to within four points of the title.

Victory over St Mirren on Saturday would leave Celtic having to beat Dundee United at Tannadice 24 hours later to avoid Gers being crowned champions with six games to spare.

Even if Celtic take maximum points, the Ibrox faithful would then face the dream scenario of their team going to Parkhead on March 21 with the chance to win their first league crown in a decade at the home of their bitter rivals.

Whenever it finally comes, Davis is in no rush to sit down and talk numbers.

He said: "My approach has been the same as the club's – let's concentrate on the football first and foremost and get ourselves into a position first.

"I've got a very open relationship with both the gaffer and Ross Wilson (the sporting director) at the club.

"We're always talking about different scenarios, so I'm not under any pressure or worried about the situation moving forward."

ID:437906: cacheID:437906:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3871:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England manager Gareth Southgate pictured on September 8, 2020
Read Next:
Gareth Southgate: 'Club coaches should be consulted over World Cup calendar'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal37275589286186
2Manchester CityMan City36267391335885
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs361961171591263
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd36166145256-454
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!