STEVEN WHITTAKER reckons the burning desire of Rangers' fringe players is underpinning the Ibrox club's amazing late charge for the Scottish title.

The massive 1-0 victory over Celtic in the Old Firm game on Saturday was the seventh straight win that Walter Smith's injury-ravaged team has recorded.

During that time, Smith has had to do without the services of DaMarcus Beasley, Madjid Bougherra, Kirk Broadfoot, Kyle Lafferty, Lee McCulloch, Kenny Miller, Sasa Papac and Kevin Thomson.

In addition, both keeper Allan McGregor and captain Barry Ferguson have been unavailable for selection after being fined and suspended by the Glasgow club.

But Whittaker, who has been deployed out of position at left-back in recent weeks, reckons the men who have come in have performed brilliantly.

The 24-year-old, set to line up against his former club Hibs at Easter Road tomorrow night, feels Neil Alexander, Christian Dailly, Mo Edu, Stevie Smith and Andrius Velicka deserve enormous credit.

He agreed: "When you have not been involved for a while and you do get a chance to play, the adrenaline flows a bit more and you look forward to games that little bit more.

"I speak from experience because I have been through that myself.

"In recent weeks, we have needed to draw on all our resources, but we have shown we have the strength in depth at Rangers.

"People said earlier in the season that our squad was too big. Well, we have needed every player in it.

"Quite a few of the lads who have come in have done fantastic for the team. They have shown a great attitude in training and in matches and have helped us to go on an excellent winning run.

"Given that they have not played in many games, guys like Stevie Smith and Andrius Velicka have excelled. They have answered the club's call at a difficult stage in the season and performed well."

Smith looked to be one of Scotland's most promising left-backs in years when he first burst onto the scene during Alex McLeish's spell in charge of Rangers.

Indeed, many fans felt he could go on to make the position his own for many years and establish himself as a regular in the national team.

However, since then he has struggled with horrendous injury problems which at one stage threatened his professional career.

Whittaker, like every Gers supporter, has been delighted to see him come back into the side in left midfield and feels their partnership on that flank is flourishing well.

He said: "I'm pleased for Stevie because he is a top lad. He is always a good laugh in training and in the dressing room and definitely helps foster the great spirt that we have in the squad.

"Stevie went through a stage when he was so unlucky with injuries. He just couldn't get a fitness base.

"But he's managed to find that now after playing for most of the season in the reserves and is pushing on.

"Him being a former left-back means we can swap positions easily during games. People have been surprised to see him in midfield, but he has great attacking qualities and is a great crosser of the ball."

Whittaker, who netted one of his trademark wonder goals the last time he played against Hibs at Easter Road, feels he is a better player since joining Rangers at the start of last season.

He explained: "The demands on you are far greater at Rangers than they were at Hibs. There is a bigger crowd. I am mentally tougher than I was before."