JOSE ENRIQUE reckons his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard should jump at the chance to join Newcastle, if given the opportunity.

The current Rangers manager has been linked with the vacant Toon role after Steve Bruce stepped down from the position today.

The Liverpool legend has insisted that he is fully focussed on his current role at Ibrox, but Enrique believes a move to Tyneside would tempt his former skipper.

He told BeMyBet: "If he [Gerrard] has the offer on the table and he believes it's the right move, I’d be happy for him and Newcastle. He’s a top man, a top manager and he could teach so much to the players.

"Look what he did at Rangers, they weren’t winning anything, he arrived and they started winning trophies and fighting with Celtic. I believe he can make a stamp on Newcastle.

"He’s one of my ex-teammates and Newcastle is my ex-club, so I would be happy for Newcastle and Stevie if he believes it’s the right move for him - or maybe he’s waiting for Liverpool in the future, which I also understand?

"But if he has the offer on the table, he should take it. If they promise him a good project, he would do really well there."

Enrique also says the Newcastle job would be an upgrade from Gerrard's current position at Rangers.

He added: "It would definitely be an upgrade. You can’t compare the Premier League with the Scottish league. I know he’s won the title in Scotland, but Newcastle is a big club in England.

"He would know the history of Newcastle, the players that were there playing Champions League football, fighting for the top four for many years in the past. He knows the fanbase is massive and beautiful.

"The city is very, very similar to Liverpool in terms of the fanbase. Liverpool, worldwide, is a bigger club because you can’t compare the titles of both clubs, but in terms of the cities and how much they live for their club, it’s unbelievable. If he has the opportunity to go to Newcaslte, it would be an upgrade from Rangers."