RANGERS star Niko Kranjcar has issued a rallying cry and insisted the Ibrox side MUST challenge runaway title winners Celtic next season.

The Croatian star,  crocked for most of the season with a cruciate knee injury, reckons there are no excuses for Rangers not mounting a title challenge next term.

Kranjcar said: “Celtic are far ahead of us, but at Rangers, you cannot afford to enter the new season with no ambition.

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“And you cannot aim not to be fighting for first place with Celtic. Yes, this year has turned out to be a disappointment, but remember the club has only just returned to the top division in Scotland after a few years away, so there is some justification for what has happened this season.

“But from next season, Rangers have to be challenging for the title, regardless of how much of a financial advantage Celtic have.

“It will be very difficult to win the league, but it is certainly our target.”
And Kranjcar has not ruled out making a shock comeback at the tail end of the season.

He said: “I have another month to go and then I will get the go-ahead to get back playing. This is the most serious injury I have had.

“But I am hoping to be back playing in a month.”