Michael Beale believes the lure of a Scottish League Cup Final showdown with Celtic can inspire his three Rangers big guns to make injury returns.
The Light Blues boss admitted a 3-0 win over Livingston handed his side the perfect preparation for next Sunday's Hampden
clash with the absent Malik Tillman, John Lundstram and Ryan Jack all rated doubts. Rangers remain nine points behind leaders Celtic after James Tavernier's double and a Kemar Roofe strike secured a ninth straight win against the ten man Lions who had Stephane Omeonga red carded.
But with the clock ticking down towards the chance for Beale to lift his first trophy as boss, the Englishman is praying his missing trio can climb off the treatment table in time to face the Hoops. He said: “They are big doubts because they were not available today. But cup finals do strange things and people find it within their body for a game like that. Malik has a problem with his hamstring, Jacko has a problem with his calf and John with his ankle.
“I’m optimistic they will return to training at the back end of the week with Scott Arfield. But, it will be touch and go. What we had today might be what we have and I was delighted with what we got today from the players. I have had to take a few deep breaths when other players have gone down injured this week.
"But you have to trust your next group of players. Everything I needed to see today I saw. Of course it is a worry when you don't have players available. But that is why you try to build a strong squad. That Is now six away games on the bounce we have won and that shows a lot of character.
"A lot of people would have looked at the game today and thought that run might end. But we have won 3-0. We will now wrap the boys up as we have a full week to prepare for the cup final."
Rangers opened the scoring from a James Tavernier penalty and Beale was in no doubt referee David Dickinson made the right call, after a VAR intervention checked whether a pull by James Penrice on Alfredo Morelos was enough for him to point to the spot and he also praised his skipper for a stunning free-kick which put his side two goals ahead.
He said: “I thought it was a good decision from VAR as it was a clear penalty. The free kick was superb. I was the luckiest person at the stadium as I was right in line with it. I don't think the keeper would do anything as it was so high up. “
Beale is also adamant he would have every faith in the line-up which started against the Lions to be able to go toe-to-toe with Celtic in seven days' time and was delighted to see Kemar Roofe climb off the bench to hit a late third.
He said: "The front three that started did what I wanted them to do. Fashion and Ryan played a little bit wider to try and run behind a little bit more. We tried to be a little bit more direct at times with our passing. Kemar has looked really sharp every day in training and has been able to train regularly. In the first one to two months he was training one or two days before games.
"He has started to look sharp and came on today and did well and scored. It was touch and go whether I started him but I just decided that with this surface and his injury record, bearing in mind the other injuries that we've picked up this week, it was best to keep him for the last half hour."
The Rangers gaffer handed a debut to teenager Bailey Rice and admitted it capped an incredible week for the kid. He said: "He is only 16 and not often a young boy plays for Scotland in Spain on the Friday afternoon and then comes back to make his debut for Rangers on the Saturday. What a debut for that young man."
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