Rangers assistant boss McCoist backs Kris Boyd to break 'goal drought'

The striker failed to find the back of the net in his last three outings for the Ibrox side as he continues to battle back to his best after a double hernia operation.

The fact he is within touching distance of his 100th SPL goal for Rangers means the mini-drought has been even more frustrating.

Boyd will have to wait another couple of weeks to crack that record as the focus turns to the cup competitions but McCoist has every faith in the hitman to come good again.

He said: "He will be fine, I genuinely don't worry about Boydy. It's amazing how many times this happens, not just to Boydy, it happens to players in all sorts of walks of life.

"They are so near to a particular record or target and it just takes them a little bit longer to get there than they would hope.

"That's the case with Boydy but the one thing that will never desert him is his ability to put the ball in the back of the net.

"Make no mistake about it, any opposition defence that plays against Boydy will know that and will know he is arguably the best in the business at doing that.

"It's just a matter of time before he starts hitting the net again."

Dundee United manager Peter Houston believes going back to Ibrox will not hold any fears for evergreen defender Darren Dods.

The veteran centre-half was part of the United side demolished 7-1 by Rangers in December when Boyd famously hit five goals.

Dods has played the role of understudy to Andy Webster for long spells this season, but with the on-loan Scotland internationalist unavailable against his parent club, Dods will be asked to step back into the firing line against the Gers.

The 34-year-old will call upon his vast experience and Houston believes that will be invaluable to United's players.

He said: "Darren Dods will come back into the team and I don't think having to change the defence is a big issue.

"The big man has been a stalwart since he came here and he's a role model for a lot of the lads."