Rangers: Van Bronckhorst in 'hugely worrying situation' at Ibrox

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst should be “hugely worried” about the current gap to Celtic, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Dutchman’s focus has turned to the Champions League tonight with his side marking their return with a trip to Ajax, but they’re already five points behind their Old Firm rivals in the Scottish Premiership title race.

With the Hoops unbeaten in the league since last September, Van Bronckhorst’s made the trip across Glasgow knowing they’d have to be at their very best to come away with anything to show for their efforts.

Celtic had also just beaten Dundee United 9-0 and have looked relentless at both ends of the pitch during the early weeks of the season.

And it didn’t take long for Celtic’s superiority to show as Liel Abada swept home inside the opening 10 minutes, before Jota doubled their advantage and Abada scored their third just before the break.

Rangers’ misery was compounded late on when Jon McLaughlin’s woeful pass allowed David Turnbull to score Celtic’s fourth and complete their biggest Old Firm victory for more than four years.

Celtic still hold a 100 per cent record in the league, while the Gers drew at Hibs earlier in the campaign and therefore already trail their bitter rivals by five points.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s hugely worrying and the gap between the sides is what’s going to strike the most concerning Van Bronckhorst at the moment.

“He’s clearly not happy and the first thing he needs is for his players to show a stronger mentality than the one that they’ve got at the moment, and they need to bounce back immediately from this.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Rangers after their Old Firm humbling, with their first game back in the Champions League proper