Jermain Defoe’s cup drive from Rangers final pain

Steven Gerrard’s team dominated Celtic in the December’s Betfred Cup final yet still walked away empty handed.

Alfredo Morelos missed a string of chances – including a second-half penalty – as Neil Lennon’s 10-man Hoops claimed victory thanks to Christopher Jullien’s winner.

Defoe was thrown on for the final 20 minutes in a desperate bid to force the game into extra-time, but the former England striker admits the feeling of trudging out of Hampden without the club’s first major cup win since 2011 was a bitter blow which still stings to this day.

But the 38-year-old aims to use that pain as motivation when the Light Blues begin this year’s competition away tomorrow to Falkirk.

He said: “It’s important, especially when you play for a club like this, you have to compete in every competition and believe you can win it whether that’s domestically or the Europa League which we’re competing well in.

“This is the first trophy and we’re certainly going to try and win it.

“The defeat in the final last season was horrible – that’s probably an understatement – being so close and sitting there after the game and not coming away with the first trophy.

“You look at that and you don’t want to have that feeling again but there’s still a long way to go and we have to win the game his weekend and see what happens after that.

“But we’re playing for Rangers and everyone understands the demands of playing for this football club.

“The squad is really strong and you can see in different games there’s different personnel and players are coming in and producing.

“Credit to all the boys, everyone realises how important this season is and hopefully that can continue.”

And while his Ibrox deal may be up in the summer, Defoe is not yet ready to hang up his boots.

“I’ve got a good relationship with the manager and I spoke to him about the Europa League squad and having that day off my legs so he can get the best Jermain Defoe at the weekend,” he said. “If I can continue still scoring goals at this level then for me there’s no reason to stop.

“It’s about being honest and if I get to the stage where I’m struggling then of course there’s no point...but at the minute I don’t feel 38.”