CLIVE TYLDESLEY has been in Steven Gerrard's company often enough over time to get a sense of what makes him tick.

Two seasons without silverware for Rangers have increased the pressure on Gerrard's shoulders this term but the opening weeks of the campaign have been encouraging at Ibrox.

And Tyldesley - now leading up the RangersTV commentary team - still sees the familiar traits in the Liverpool legend as he observes the Old Firm battle.

He said: "Steven is a friend, Neil Lennon is a friend. Steven, Gary McAllister and Andy Scoulding have all been very helpful because I have come across them in previous lives and they are friends of mine. I have probably got a more open channel to the manager than most because these are personal friendships that have been formed over years.

"If I were working for Celtic TV I would be picking the phone up to Lenny and Nicky Hammond and getting the same kind of help.

"I am not really in a position to judge the strength of Steven’s team at the moment or the job that he has done over the last couple of years because I am still feeling my way into a position where I can start to form opinions.

"But what I do know is what a competitive individual he is and what I have seen from talking to him in the last few weeks is not only how determined he is to make a success of this job, but how measured he is."

That side of Gerrard's personality has been tested on several occasions during his two years at Ibrox as he has gone through significant highs and lows as Rangers boss.

Yet Tyldesley believes the way that Gerrard conducts himself will only stand him in good stead as he looks to make it third time lucky this term.

He said: "I was very struck by the way he handled the Alfredo Morelos situation in the lead up to Killie. He has obviously given some thought to what he wanted to say publicly and just in a few words - saying ‘he is not himself’ – he has spoken volumes. That's all he gave you.

"I can think of a number of managers that would have rambled on for five minutes on the issue and either let their guard down or misled the people who were asking the questions. What Steven has been is honest up to a point that a manager can be honest, but also leaves you in no doubt whatsoever about what he thinks is good, bad or indifferent.

"The fact that they have started the season as impressively as they have, yet he still hasn’t given the impression that he has been totally satisfied with anything that he has seen, says a lot. I said in the Killie commentary that there is a restlessness about him which I think matches the club and fans.

"It is a very healthy restlessness and I think he will remain restless all the way through the season, with a focus and a determination to make the most of the opportunity that he has."