Jermain Defoe helps lead Rangers first team as club pursue Steven Gerrard's successor

Jermain Defoe (centre) joined Rangers' coaching staff over the summer

Jermain Defoe will help lead Rangers' men's first team while the club pursues a successor for manager Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard joined Aston Villa last week and Rangers take on Hibs in Sunday's League Cup semi-final.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst held positive talks with the club about the manager's post over the weekend.

• Van Bronckhorst in positive Rangers talks over manager job
• Gerrard confirms Villa coaching staff

The ex-Feyenoord manager has been linked with the job along with his former Rangers team-mate Rino Gattuso, former Chelsea and Derby boss Frank Lampard and Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen.

Gerrard has taken assistant Gary McAllister to Villa Park as well as other members of his coaching staff at Ibrox - Michael Beale, Tom Culshaw, Jordan Milsom and Scott Mason.

Defoe joined Rangers' coaching staff in a player-coach role during the summer and has played just once as a substitute this term.

As well as the weekend trip to Hampden, Rangers also have a vital Europa League match against Sparta Prague on the horizon.

Victory by a margin of two goals or more next Thursday would seal a place in the knockout rounds.