Barry Ferguson has urged Rangers to make use of footballing dark arts against Callum McGregor in the trip to Celtic Park on Saturday.

The former Ibrox captain insists the Celtic skipper is the key player for Brendan Rodgers' side.

And Ferguson has warned Rangers must shut McGregor down in the crucial league contest - even if that means taking a foul.

Speaking on Go Radio, Ferguson insisted McGregor has to be forced backward whenever he touches the ball in order to prevent him kick-starting dangerous attacks

On the importance of stopping the Celtic captain, Ferguson said: "He starts the attacks. They're just little passes but they're important passes.

"Rangers need to make sure Callum McGregor is facing back to Joe Hart every time he gets the ball.

"And if he does turn you, take a foul."

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It comes after former Rangers player and manager Stuart McCall backed Dujon Sterling to "sort out" McGregor in the derby duel.

He told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast:“If, like people were saying, McGregor was back to his best for Celtic, apparently, and pulling the strings.

"I’d like to see somebody to go and sort him out and, for me, Sterling can do that. He can go and play and sit on somebody who’s going to try to dictate the tempo of the game.

"But normally that’s a Cantwell or Lawrence who’s going to sit on a deeper midfielder.”

Rangers currently sit three points adrift of Celtic at the Scottish Premiership summit but could move level on points with a victory at Parkhead on Saturday.

With only two matches left after this weekend, the derby at Celtic Park has been signposted as a potentially decisive fixture in the post-split calendar.