Lee McCulloch knows exactly what it takes to represent Rangers given he spent eight years of his senior career at Ibrox.
The former Motherwell and Wigan Athletic star was a stalwart for Rangers during some of the Govan club’s highest and lowest points.
He played a major part in Rangers’ run to the UEFA Cup final in 2008, while standing by the club he loves when administration and liquidation struck in 2012.
McCulloch was captain of the club from that year until his departure to Kilmarnock in 2015, massively helping Rangers in their rise from the Third Division to the Championship.
With that knowledge and experience, McCulloch knows a player when he sees one. And he’s looking no further than Vaclav Cerny at Rangers this season.
McCulloch says Rangers need Vaclav Cerny to stay
McCulloch has singled out the Czech Republic winger on loan from Wolfsburg and thinks he has shown what it takes to step up and represent Rangers.
Cerny has scored 17 goals in 44 games across all competitions, all as a right winger. And the last thing Rangers fans want is for him to leave in the summer.
That’s when his loan expires and a repeat of the Abdallah Sima situation is unwanted in Govan. But Cerny may cost Rangers a whopping £7-8m if Wolfsburg are to recoup what they paid for him.
McCulloch says Rangers need to try and hold on to their star man, but insists Cerny also needs to show a desire to stay as well.
Asked by PLZ Soccer if Cerny’s the player Rangers need and must try to keep this summer, McCulloch replied: “Yep, he’s been brilliant this season.
He’s more of a match winner. He’s positive, he’s direct and he’s a Rangers player, if I can put it that way. He’ll take people out the game, he’ll set up goals – but he’s there to win games and score goals.
“He’s on loan so that’s up to the club, they’ll need to try and do a bit of business. But he’ll need to want to stay as well.
“I think we’re a wee bit away from that yet, it’s still a long way to go until the end of the season. But I think it would be a positive if he was here next year.
Cerny has already addressed Rangers future
McCulloch clearly hasn’t been keeping tabs with what Cerny has been saying to Czech media over the international break.
Asked if he can see himself continuing his career at Rangers, Cerny replied: “I definitely do. But there are so many aspects that I can’t control. All I can do is be the best I can and keep up my form and numbers.
“There’s no time for that, we play every three days. I don’t have an option, that’s the only official one. I don’t know what will happen.”
Cerny clarified that Rangers have thus far given him no indication of wanting to keep him, as he continued: “Rangers will be going through some changes in the summer, there’s talk of new owners buying a large percentage of the shares.
“But nothing is confirmed, it’s just being talked about and written about in the media.
“It wouldn’t be right to discuss something with someone who doesn’t know what will happen in two months. It’s too early for that.
