Kevin Muscat moves step closer to Rangers job after masterminding wild victory in China

Kevin Muscat is set to join Rangers on a high note following a thrilling 4-3 victory over Qingdao, which has brought Shanghai Port one step closer to the league title. Muscat is poised to take over at Ibrox, but with his team currently leading the three-way title race, Andrew Cavenagh and the Rangers board are willing to wait until the end of the Chinese Super League season to bring him in.

With just a month left in the season, they entered Friday's match against Qingdao with a one-point lead at the top of the table. Despite an early setback with the home team scoring after only 11 minutes, goals from Brazilian pair Gabrielzinho and Leonardo, who netted twice, made for an exhilarating first half.

A late goal from Shuai Li sealed the win, sparking jubilant celebrations as Port moved significantly closer to the title.

This victory put them four points ahead of Chengdu Rongcheng, who play later on Friday, and if they fail to win, it will leave Muscat within reach of the fifth league title of his career.

He clinched the Chinese Super League last season with Shanghai and has two A-League Championships with Melbourne Victory and a J-League title with Yokohama F. Marinos under his belt.

Only three matches remain in Port's domestic season, which concludes away to Dalian Yingbo on November 22.

Muscat is set to then fly to the UK, where he could make his managerial debut for Rangers in a Europa League clash against Braga on Thursday, November 27.

In the interim, Stevie Smith has been holding the reins, and the stand-in boss believes Muscat is just what the club needs after a period of instability.

Speaking at his first press conference since taking over, he said: "In the past four or five years we've had different types of managers but there's no guarantee of success anywhere.

"It's really difficult when the expectation is there to win all the time.

"We've experienced different managers, whether that's ones who have played here or head coach types who are deemed more tactical.

"We've had every type of manager but the priority is always to win.

"I was a young player when Kevin was here. I only came across him a few times.

"My job was to clean Alex and the coaching staff's boots so I'd pass him in the corridor.

"As a person, he was really pleasant. I know he has a reputation as a player.

"But in the communication I had with him he was always really pleasant with the young players."