Eddie Turnbull's advice helping make Steven Whittaker prolific

HE ANTICIPATED many things at the start of this season, but Steven Whittaker of Rangers would have needed clairvoyant powers to foresee that he would be the club's third top goalscorer with ten goals as the champions approach the run-in to the top six split.

One man long ago told Whittaker that he could be getting on the score sheet regularly. Eddie Turnbull, legendary member of Hibernian's Famous Five and later manager of the club, as well as cup-winning boss of Aberdeen, has long been an admirer of the Edinburgh-born player. Now 86, Turnbull has given Whittaker some perspicacious advice in the past.

"In my time at Hibs I think he had a soft spot for me," said Whittaker, "he always told me to keep going, he believed in me, and it was good to have someone like that to talk to.

"He always said that when I crossed the halfway line I began to think like a striker rather than a defender when I got into those positions, and hopefully that's showed with some of the goals I have scored this season."

Turnbull always fancied that Whittaker would make a good "right half" in his parlance, but the 25-year-old, who is now three years into a five-year contract at Ibrox, prefers to strike from a deeper position.

He said: "As much as I like going forward in midfield, I still think that I am more of an attacking player coming up from full-back as it suits my style of play."

It has worked well for him, the goals have arrived, and there could be more.

"Even when I was a midfielder at youth level I never set targets to score goals," he says, "and I have never felt the need to score a certain amount of goals per season. But it's great to be in the position I'm in and I'm looking forward to adding more goals before the end of the season."

Last weekend's victory over Celtic was the start of a good few days for Whittaker, who was given his fifth cap by new Scotland manager Craig Levein when he came on as a substitute against the Czech Republic.

That Old Firm clash ended spectac- ularly well for Whittaker and his colleagues, as he noted. "The game had been built up and we knew how big a result it was for both clubs at this stage of the season. A draw would not have been the worst result for us, but to nick it in the last minute was the best possible outcome and put us in an even better position than we could have been in.

"The result will have been a blow to them and they will have to pick themselves up, but that is down to their camp and right now we are concentrating on the game against Kilmarnock on Tuesday.

"It is going to be difficult. They are on a great run and in good form at the minute and seem to have been revitalised under Jimmy Calderwood. They beat Celtic at Rugby Park so we are expecting a tough game down there, but hopefully we can pick up all three points. We mustn't let complacency come in to the next few games. We all know what's at stake, we know what it's like to win a championship as we did it last year, so the motivation is there as the boys will want that feeling again. It would be massive if we could win the treble, but it's still all to be achieved. We haven't won anything yet."

Kilmarnock's players are not the only ones feeling that they have a new lease of life. Whittaker revealed that a patch of indifferent form earlier in the season led to that most Scottish of scenarios – he gave himself a right good talking to.

"I started the season in the team and I was doing all right but not great," said Whittaker. "I was just ticking over but then dropped out of the team over Christmas and that has turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise as I have rejuvenated myself since then.

"Everyone goes through highs and lows in their form, but I knew I wasn't doing myself justice and I wasn't playing as well as I knew I could.

"We're professional footballers and we all want to play the game, so you find the motivation within yourself. When the chance came along I was buzzing to get back and hopefully I have shown good enough form to keep my place."

Keep banging in the goals and Whittaker will not have to worry about being selected. It's his happy knack that at least one wise old sage spotted years ago.

MARTIN HANNAN