Indian trialists head home after spending week with Ibrox club

Rangers manager Ally McCoist will continue to monitor the progress of Indian strikers Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua following their trial spell.

The pair arrived in Glasgow last Friday to train with the first-team squad, as well as taking part in a practice match at Murray Park on Wednesday, which was watched by McCoist and assistant Kenny McDowall.

Chhetri and Lalpekhlua have now returned to their respective clubs in the I-League with no decision made as yet about a potential future career with Rangers. McCoist told The Ibrox Edition: “Sunil and Jeje did fine and showed up well in training.

“They showed some lovely touches and adapted to the different surroundings they experienced.

“They are away back home but we will keep monitoring their situations and keep monitoring their performances.

“They will continue to play for their sides in India and it was great to have them both working with us as they are talented boys.

“It was a good experience for them and I think they certainly enjoyed it. We enjoyed having them here too.

“Kenny and I watched them playing in the match yesterday and it was a really enjoyable game. They did absolutely fine.”

The trial period clashed with Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat at Kilmarnock and Tuesday’s friendly against Hamburg.

Visa issues meant the duo were unable to travel to Germany with the rest of the squad and Chhetri admits he would have liked more time to impress McCoist.

He said: “I’m just disappointed I didn’t get much time with the first team. Even the gaffer didn’t get much time to see us.

“Having said that, this is the only week we had a break in our league. This was the only chance I had to come and have a trial.”

He added: “As far as Jeje and I are concerned, if given a chance we would love to come back again. In the summer hopefully. It depends on what Mr McCoist says to our agents.

“It is a huge club with a huge history. It is a big name to be attached with and, given the chance, we would love to be a part of it.”

Meanwhile, Rangers have confirmed they have opened discussions with Corinthians about a potential tie-up with the Brazilian club.

Chief operating officer Ali Russell and director of football Gordon Smith met with the club during their trip to the country as part of a Scottish trade delegation.

Russell said: “We are both the biggest clubs in our respective countries and we had some broad discussions. We both have big ambitions and we had a lot to discuss.

“Overall, we felt there was quite a lot we could do to develop their business and from a football side there may be opportunities for youth players to come to Glasgow and vice versa. There is also the potential that we could set up friendly games either in Sao Paolo or in Glasgow.”