We can still win title, claims de Boer

Rangers striker Ronald de Boer believes his side can still retain the league title.

Celtic are already eight points clear and some bookmakers are ready to pay out should the Hoops win the New Year Old Firm derby at Parkhead.

Rangers are beset with injuries and their form is stuttering, as was demonstrated by Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Dunfermline.

But de Boer, who is close to a return from a knee injury, was still bullish.

He told Rangers News: “We are still capable of winning the title again and we all believe we can.

“If you don’t believe, you will never win trophies at any level.

“We are behind in the SPL at the moment but we have to make sure we don’t drop any more points to other teams.

“We have to keep winning over the festive period.

“The spirit is very high here and I am sure we can have a nice season.

“There is a direct spot in the Champions League for the SPL title-holders so everyone knows how important the rest of the season will be.

“Losing at Parkhead in January would be bad for us and it would be very difficult to win the title but not impossible.

“So it would be nice to get at least a draw, although winning would be great.

“We are not as bad a team as people are making out and a lot of our bad results are to do with injuries.

“In the majority of games this season the spine of the team has been missing.”

Mikel Arteta, Christian Nerlinger and Craig Moore are edging their way closer to comebacks and de Boer was confident he would also be rejoining his team-mates soon.

He said: “My knee feels fine at the moment.

“I won’t say I will definitely miss the Old Firm game but I also can’t predict I will be 100% fit to play at Parkhead.”