Beattie claims Rangers could hold their own in England

James BEATTIE has played just a handful of games for Rangers so far but he insists he has been there long enough to be convinced of their ability to hold their own in the Barclays Premier League.

The prospect of the Old Firm joining English football's top flight is one which is often debated and is favoured by both Rangers and Celtic.

And, having witnessed some credible performances in the Champions League this season, including a goalless draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Beattie claims the one thing that is not in doubt is Rangers' ability to match the best in the Premier League.

He said: "A lot of people ask me about the standard of football between the Premier League and the SPL and us maybe joining the Premier League. I think we have shown that we could hold our own and do very well down there."

Lack of match sharpness, combined with a spell injured on the sidelines, means Beattie has featured in just eight matches since his summer switch from Stoke. But, despite his lack of game-time, the striker says he is loving life with the Scottish champions.

"The club is huge, it's immensely well-supported. It's one of those clubs where you can't go anywhere without meeting a Rangers fan and I don't just mean in Scotland or England," he said.

Meanwhile, Steven Naismith admits the players are growing increasingly frustrated by their lack of football over the festive period. Last night's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at Dundee United was postponed for a second time due to adverse weather conditions, after water damage at Ibrox forced the weekend match against St Mirren to be called off. That means Rangers have had just one domestic fixture - the 1-1 draw at Inverness - in the last month, as they prepare to travel to Motherwell on Boxing Day.

Naismith said: "The stop-start to your week isn't the best preparation. We just really want the games to be back on, it's been a bit disappointing that they've been off.

"The thing a player likes best is a routine and knowing your full week. It's quite distracting when games are called off days before and training is changing."