Neil McCann believes Rangers' kids will still flourish this season - despite being helpless to prevent the Ibrox club crashing to another humiliating defeat.

Youngsters like Robbie Crawford, Chris Hegarty, Kyle McAusland, Lewis Macleod and Andy Mitchell all featured against Forfar Athletic last weekend.

But they were unable to beat the Station Park part-timers in the League Cup and trudged from the field with the boos of the travelling support ringing in their ears.

However, former Rangers winger McCann has predicted the likes of Jon Daly and Nicky Law will help to bring on the developing talents when they are able to play.

Light Blues manager Ally McCoist will only be free to field all his summer recruits after the signing ban expires on September 1, although Law and Daly are in today's squad for the opening SPFL Division One meeting with Brechin City at Ibrox.

"There are experienced players who have found that the pressure at Rangers can be too much to cope with," said McCann. "It is all-consuming. It can get to the stage that wherever you go in your personal life, people want to talk about the club, about the last game and how you're playing.

"It can be a lot to take in for anyone, but particularly if you are just starting out in your professional career.

"This season the likes of big Jon and Nicky can be a significant addition to the squad because they are older heads in so many ways.

"They can talk some of the younger guys through it - they're a point of reference. The club is a massive part of people's everyday life and there can be a fair bit of off-field stick that goes with that."

He went on: "If you don't win a game on a Saturday, you'll definitely take a bit of stick when you're out and about and that can be quite a shock if you're not prepared for it."

New Scotland boss Gordon Strachan was willing to call Rangers players into the squad last term, with Lee Wallace named in the first pool for a friendly against Estonia.

It was a move away from the decision made by Craig Levein that, given the level Rangers were playing at, that it would be folly to include them in the national side.

McCann, though, believes that the current Ibrox squad could still have something to offer and believes Strachan will remain open-minded about what they can bring as the Euro 2016 qualification phase looms.

"Gordon seems to be of the mind that if someone is at the top of their game, they might not make it into his starting XI just because of where they are playing their football, but I do think he would look to have them in there if he feels they can add something

"I think there are players at Rangers just now who are good enough to play for the national team, like Wallace.

"It is up to the players to have a good season for Rangers and then see where that takes them. But the door is open to them - as it should be."

While Rangers have gone through a galling 20-month period, there has been a suggestion that their greatest rivals are light years ahead now.

The Ibrox club have lurched from one crisis to another, while Celtic's policy of prudent financial spending - coupled with last season's impressive Champions League run - has put them on a sound financial footing.

McCann, though, doesn't believe anyone at Rangers will be intimidated by how far in front Celtic look at the minute - both on and off the field.

He said: "I can't imagine Ally will be too bothered by that. It is up to Celtic what they do with their finances.

"Rangers can only look to the full houses they are getting at Ibrox and the fact the support has stuck by them.

"They want to get themselves in good shape in the boardroom and have a team able to compete out on the pitch."