Lee Wallace won’t be risked on synthetic surface

LEE Wallace will be rested for Rangers’ match at East Stirling today, but should return for the Third Division champions’ final league game of the season, at home to Berwick next Saturday.

Manager Ally McCoist said the fact today’s game is on a synthetic surface persuaded him to rest the left-back.

“Lee has got a knee injury. He’s been feeling it for the last couple of weeks and played last week. With the surface tomorrow I am going to rest him, give him a wee break, and hopefully bring him back next Saturday. Our young right-back might be moving to left back. We’ll have a think about it. But we don’t have another left-back.”

Dorin Goian and Carlos Bocanegra are due back at Ibrox in the summer after spending this season on loan, and McCoist is looking forward to their return. “We need centre-backs. We need players all throughout the team, but we certainly need the spine of our team strengthened.

“All the way through it, from defence, through midfield, right up to attack. That would be sensible. [Bocanegra] has got bundles of experience. It certainly wouldn’t break my heart if he was to come back. [Goian] is in the same situation. I read last week that Steaua Bucharest are interested in him, but nobody has said anything to me. Unless somebody tells me otherwise we will certainly be getting in touch with him to tell him when pre-season starts.”

This will be the earliest that McCoist has ever ended a season, either as player or manager, but he said it would not feel ‘weird’ to start the summer so soon. “I’d use the word delightful rather than weird. Roll on! The players can get away and get a good break. But it is probably the earliest I can remember finishing on in a season.”