SPUR OF THE MOMENT

Lee. Rangers are in best shape they've been all season ahead of Europa League crunch tie and huge Old Firm cup final

- ANDY NEWPORT

RANGERS have spent the past five months lumbering about in the depressing darkness.

But Lee McCulloch can finally see the first faint rays of hope.

With key men returning and new heroes emerging, Philippe Clement has at last been able to shake up the toothless attacking line-up he has been forced to rely on this season and instead piece together a frontline with bite.

And it's already producing results.

A Gers line-up who had managed just three Premiership goals on the road this term doubled that tally in one afternoon's work at the northern part of the A9.

Sunday's 3-0 Dingwall drubbing of Ross County came hot on the heels of a six-goal scorching of Kilmarnock and the 4-1 win over Nice in the Europa League.

For Ibrox hero McCulloch, it's all contributing to a far brighter picture than the bleak landscape the Gers faithful were faced with at the start of the season.

And he believes it at least offers Clement's team reason to be optimistic as they gear up for a huge week.

They have the chance to add a fresh coat of colour to that image -including a silver streak - as they go up against Ange Postecoglou's Lilywhites and the green and white hoops of Celtic.

Asked if Gers had turned a corner at the perfect time ahead of this week's Europa League showdown with Tottenham and the Premier Sports Cup Final at Hampden, Jig said: "Aye, definitely.