Glasgow Rangers ace Jermain Defoe seems to have revelled in rubbishing Sky Sports pundit John Hartson's claims after he arrived at Ibrox in January 2019.

The former Celtic striker told the Daily Record that Steven Gerrard does not know his best team.

And he blamed two big signings for confusing the situation after Rangers agreed to sign Defoe and Steven Davis on loan deals from Bournemouth and Southampton.

Hartson said "they brought in a big signing in Jermain Defoe, but it just confused the situation. It left Gerrard wondering who to play."

And he added "Davis hasn’t kicked a ball."

However, it looks like Defoe has had the last laugh, as he has been directly involved in 35 goals in just 55 games for Steven Gerrard's side, including a hattrick against Hiberian in only his second Scottish Premiership start last season.

The highly-rated 38-year-old striker could displace Colombia international Alfredo Morelos after he came off the bench to score his first goal and supply his first assist of the season against Lincoln Red Imps in the Europa League last month.

Despite his advancing years, Defoe has routinely continued to defy the critics. He famously scored a stunning solo goal against Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light to win the Wear-Tyne Derby in 2015.

If you take a look at his heatmaps last season, you can clearly see his playing style hasn't really changed a great deal with an even greater emphasis on being inside the box, although he has also become somewhat of a poacher-turned-provider.

He formed a prolific partnership with the more mobile Gareth Bale during his time at Tottenham Hotspur with the pair combining for thirteen goals between them in all competitions, via Transfermarkt. Imagine what he could do with Ianis Hagi fully fit and firing on all cylinders.

With Defoe working his way back from fitness after a hamstring injury ruled him out for the start of the season, Gerrard should seriously consider starting his old comrade up top for their next game which is a huge one against Old Firm rivals Celtic, and relegating Morelos to the bench.

Defoe was once described as an "unbelievable" player by his former teammate Alan Hutton who believes the veteran is more than capable of recreating his clinical form for many more years to come.

Meanwhile, Morelos rather tends to make a meal of things against Celtic as he has so far failed to score a single goal in the Old Firm Derby whilst suffering the ignominy of being sent off several times already, as per Transfermarkt.

This time Rangers need someone they can rely on and Defoe is exactly the type of player who can get the job done. He is a goalscorer with a much calmer temperament and is someone who has experienced huge derbies in the past, including the one in North London as well as the Tyne-Wear clash.

AND in other news, Steven Gerrard right to send Rangers' Kai Kennedy to Inverness Caledonian Thistle...