ALLY McCOIST has challenged David Templeton to prove he is worthy of a regular Rangers starting berth.

The winger came off the bench to net the final goal in the Light Blues' 3-0 win over Cowdenbeath on Tuesday night.

McCoist elected to go with Lewis Macleod and Steven Smith on the flanks as Templeton had to settle for a spot on the sidelines.

But the Gers boss knows the 25-year-old has what it takes to be regular feature.

McCoist said: "Temps has absolutely made a claim for a place. How he played against Cowdenbeath is what we're looking for from David.

"He gets up the park and takes people on and he's always got a goal in him - he's got two very good feet, two very quick feet and he's always very well placed.

"It was really pleasing to see him coming on and scoring. He was great and we know he's capable of that.

"All that we can ask of him is to put pressure on myself and the staff to give him a starting position."

Templeton was not the only midfielder to find the net at Central Park, with playmaker Nicky Law scoring just three minutes in.

And the Ibrox gaffer is pleased with the options he has available middle to front after another Championship success.

"I just felt the boys [Macleod and Smith] deserved another crack at it after putting in a solid performance against Dumbarton on Saturday," McCoist told rangers.co.uk.

"We have Temps who can come in on the left-hand side and now that young Airdy is out for a couple of weeks we need options - so at this moment in time we're very pleased that we've got one or two.

"Big Jon Daly came off the bench and was a real handful and had a couple of good headers and probably should have scored, so we've got one or two options up front too."