The manager has added new faces in defence, midfield and attack this summer as the club gets ready for Sunday’s league opener against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and speaking at this morning’s pre-match press conference at the Hummel Training Centre , he said: “I’ve got confidence in the players and the squad.
“We do believe we are stronger but I also said that the players have got to go and prove that now.
“So time will tell but in terms of belief and confidence in the players, I have certainly got that.”
With a big squad to pick from, Gerrard is delighted to have great competition for places in his starting XI but he insists every player has to earn their place in the team.
He continued: “I think players have to realise that it is about the team and us as a staff, and me as a manager, will try to do everything we can to keep the squad healthy and fresh.
“I don’t think it is possible for everyone to go right through the calendar and play every game, so players have to be professional and understand when they are in or out. When they are in, they must take the opportunity.
“But game time and opportunities won’t be given to players, so if you are being added to the squad it won’t be put on a plate for you. You have got to fight and earn that on a daily basis. We’re hoping that fight for the jerseys will bring out a better consistency in the team.
“I think the way the fixtures have been dealt for us this year, I don’t think it is going to be a case where we can be making five, six or seven changes a game.
“I don’t think that will be the case, but I think we have to protect the players. If players have got a niggle or they’ve maxed out and we feel there is a bit of freshness that can come in and offload them, I’ll certainly look to do that.”
The manager admits that juggling Europa League qualifiers and Premiership and League Cup matches this month will again be a challenge.
He said: “It is a challenge and with all due respect I think the draw in the Europa League has been kind to us. We’ve come up against two teams that we should beat and we have done that. I think now the competition is about to get tougher.
“But the players have faced it before and handled it pretty well and I believe with more numbers and more quality in the squad I’m hoping we handle it a little bit better than we did last year.”
Gerrard believes he has got good attacking options right now with strikers Alfredo Morelos, Greg Stewart and Jermain Defoe hungry to find the net and several midfielders and wingers providing an additional goal threat.
He added: “I think we’ve got good numbers in that area. I felt last year at times if we had suspensions or injuries we were a bit light in certain areas in the final third.
“As I say I think we’ve got the numbers, I think we’ve got the quality, but players need to step up now.
“We said in the dressing room last night that a lot of the play was good [against Progres] and as the game went on we got better and better, but I need people to step up at big moments and score important goals and get us the victories.”