Andy Walker stunned by Rangers claim he's heard live on air - 'Surely not?'

Rangers will already be itching to get back to domestic action.

Before the international break, the Gers were riding a real wave of momentum, and the season's first pause came at a frustrating time.

Derek McInnes' side had racked up six straight victories across all competitions prior to the break.

The last two of those, of course, came in Old Firm triumphs over Celtic - a 1-0 Scottish Premiership win backing up a 3-0 victory in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final.

Rangers' run came after a really poor start to the season, which led to some saying McInnes was not cut out for the job.

But one claim made by a Rangers supporter left Andy Walker stunned live on the Go Radio Football Show.

Andy Walker can't fathom Rangers Europe claim

McInnes has had to work to get Rangers back on track after they were knocked out of all European competition at the start of the campaign.

Rangers were knocked out of Europa League qualifying by Jagiellonia Bialystok, losing 3-2 on aggregate.

More embarrassment was to come, as Rangers lost in a shoot-out to Jablonec to crash out of the Conference League play-off.

A Rangers supporter rang into the Go Radio Football Show to discuss Rangers' upturn in fortunes since then.

The fan, named Paul, wondered whether McInnes would actually be glad not to have the distraction of Europe, and said he was happy himself not to have continental games.

Former Celtic player and now pundit Walker was exasperated and instantly replied: "Surely not?"

Walker then added: "When you hear Derek McInnes talk about a level of performance that was an embarrassment to him - I mean every Rangers manager wants to play European football, no matter what level.

"I know it's changed in recent years, you've got your top dollar the Champions League, you've got the Europa League and Rangers were in a final not so long ago, now you've got the Conference League.

"You want to be in European football, it helps your manager, your coaches, become better. They obviously will react to it, they haven't got any European football, they have to take whatever advantage that brings."

Rangers will always want to be in Europe

Let's all be honest about this, that view point is a load of nonsense.

Rangers fans demand success, and the idea that McInnes, the players, or supporters would be glad not to be in Europe is outrageous.

McInnes deserves credit for the upturn in form since those European embarrassments, especialy for the convincing Old Firm performances.

But he himself will know there is plenty more Rangers still have to prove this season, because the demand for silverware is huge.

The ultimate aim, of course, is winning the Scottish Premiership, and having a crack at qualifying for the Champions League.

Winning two, if not all three, domestic trophies is the only way this season will be a success now.