JACK PICKS UP CZECH

“STEP up and play” has become a Rangers fans’ motto over the last few years.

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And in Plzen, Russell Martin reckoned three of his players did just that.

Now the Ibrox gaffer has challenged the rest of his squad to do the same.

Keeper, Jack Butland, was superb in the Czech Republic as Rangers lost to Viktoria Plzen but progressed to the Champions League playoffs, 4-2 on aggregate.

In front of him, centre-backs John Souttar and Nasser Djiga also earned praise from their boss for how they've tried to adapt to the style he’s implementing.

Martin is chuffed with the defensive trio's contribution but after this defeat, he knows his team still has a long way to go before they get to where he wants them.

After going through a tough period last term when he was dropped by interim boss Barry Ferguson, Butland has responded brilliantly and looks back to his best after buying into how Martin wants to play.

In front of him, Souttar and Djiga are trying to form a central defensive partnership, built on playing out from the back.

Lyall Cameron's crucial goal eventually got Rangers through here but Martin was quick to hail Butland - who made a couple of fantastic stops - and his centre-half duo.

Now he wants every other player to show what they're made of.

He said: “Jack has been amazing. He’s been so receptive and so good in terms of the care he takes with the ball.