ALLY McCoist's summer signing spree has left the Rangers manager facing several selection dilemmas ahead of the new season.

Who should he play up front is one of the biggest headaches the former striker will have during the 2013/14 campaign.

Lee McCulloch and Andy Little scored over 50 between them last term – the first Gers strike partnership to do so in 20 years.

But new recruits Jon Daly and Nicky Clark performed well together in the second half of the pre-season friendly with Brora at Dudgeon Park on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Stevie Smith and Lee Wallace both favour playing at left-back and each played 45 minutes there up in Sutherland at the weekend.

In addition, the Light Blues gaffer will only be able to pick two players to operate in centre midfield from Ian Black, Kyle Hutton, Nicky Law, Lewis Macleod and Arnold Peralta.

Fraser Aird, Robbie Crawford, Luca Gasparotto, Chris Hegarty, Andy Mitchell, Kal Naismith, Ross Perry, Daniel Stoney and others will also be keen to be involved.

But McCoist, who has brought in seven new players so far during the close season, is undeterred by the difficulties he will face choosing his starting line-up in the months to come.

In fact, having struggled to put a team on the park in the Third Division due to the paucity of resources at his disposal, he is delighted about the predicament he now faces.

It is certainly preferable to last season when he only had half a dozen players return to Murray Park for pre-season training.

"It's great to have some selection headaches," enthused McCoist. "It hasn't happened here for a long while and hopefully it will continue.

"There were a lot of boys who did themselves justice at the weekend. Kyle McAusland came in and did very well while Stevie Smith looked like he'd never been away.

"The lads have only played 45 minutes of football in a friendly and we are still only in pre-season but already it's looking very positive for us."

He added: "We've had a pre-season game – so that is a big difference from last year. The boys have worked really hard and it's been great.

"The games have started for us now, but there is still a bit to go in terms of getting the fitness levels to a point where we are ready to go for the new season."

Daly and Clark may not have hit the target in the 2-0 win over Brora – Macleod netted a brace in the second half to ensure victory – but both men did well.

Daly used his experience intelligently and made his considerable physical presence felt up front to create the opening for the second goal.

Clark, meanwhile, looked extremely comfortable on the ball and sharp given he only returned to training with his new club a fortnight ago.

Despite the considerable claims of Little and McCulloch to play in attack for Rangers, it looked to be a strike partnership worth persevering with.

McCoist reflected: "Jon has got great experience. He links up play so well and takes up great positions. He makes other players' jobs look easy.

"Jon will get the benefit of playing alongside Nicky who is a different type of forward. I was pleased how the two of them linked up.

"They have only played in training games and for 45 minutes in one pre-season friendly but good players will always play together.

"It's about forming relationships on the park and I was not at all surprised to see Jon and Nicky link up so well.

"It augurs well for the new season."

As for that matter, does the personal display of Macleod, who missed the second half of last season after suffering a serious knee injury, in midfield.

McCoist is keen for all of his players, not just his front men, to pitch in with goals, and was delighted with the individual contribution of the 19-year-old.

Great things are expected of the youngster after his mature performances in the fourth tier and his manager is confident he will cope with the pressure and realise his potential.

"It was encouraging Lewis starting the season like that," he agreed. "He has had a tough time with injury.

"He is a midfield player who gets into the box and has attempts at goal. They are worth their weight in gold.

"He will handle the expectation that is on him fine. He is a good level-headed boy who listens and wants to do well. I am sure he will continue to progress.

"He has still got a long, long way to go in terms of his own development. But we want to help him with that.

"I am sure that this club is where he wants to be. He has much promise which is yet to be fulfilled."