McAllister tells Rangers fringe players to grasp the first-team chance

Glasgow Rangers

Assistant Coach,

Gary McAllister

, has told his understudies to get most of their opportunity against Falkirk as they might earn themselves a role in the Light Blues’ endeavors for the Europa League’s knockout stages.

Gerrard’s first-choice starting XI bottled a two-goal lead against Benfica in the final minutes, but still, they are top of their Europa League group with eight points. a victory against Standard Liege next week will guarantee their qualification.

But McAllister does not want the players called for the Falkirk match to see the opportunity as a futile chance.

“The game on Sunday will be a perfect opportunity for those guys who are just on the edges, just on the periphery of things, to really get in the eyes of the manager and have a strong performance against Falkirk in this cup tie,” said Gerrard’s right-hand man.

“It’s utilising the squad and it’s also an opportunity for players to show the manager that they’re ready, come the moment they’re going to be part of the starting XI in a higher-profile game.

“We know the people that do play at the weekend, they will come in and they’ll hopefully show that intent and that willingness to say, ‘I’m ready, come the moment I’m needed I can play four, five, six games and continue this run of form’.

“It’s getting that balance. Obviously we’ve got a big squad here. We’ve got loads of players who want to play every minute of every game.

“But there is an awareness that is not physically possible, so now is the time to utilise the squad.

“We will field a strong side. We will not disrespect Falkirk by any means at all.

“But we do have the option of making a few changes just to freshen it up, because Thursday night against Benfica took an almighty effort.”

Gerrard

is yet to win his first trophy in almost two and a half years as Ranger’s boss, but McAllister believes winning this year’s League Cup could supercharge Gers’ push for honors.

“It would give us loads of momentum,” he said. “It was a disappointment last year on the day. We thought we played ever so well and we were very unlucky not to come away with the trophy.

“So that means the game at the weekend is massively important. It’s a cup tie and the carrot which has been dangled in front of us is a slot in the quarter-finals.

“It also leads us into the Standard Liege game for us next week, so we’ve got two big cup ties which are both very important for the progress of everybody here at the club.”