RANGERS skipper Lee McCulloch today praised the important role the Ibrox club's flying wing backs have played in their revival under new boss Stuart McCall.

 

And he predicted Darren McGregor and Lee Wallace can help the Gers claim the scalp of SPFL Championship winners Hearts on Sunday and boost their promotion hopes.

McCall has given centre half McGregor and left back Wallace more advanced positions since replacing Kenny McDowall as Light Blues gaffer last month.

The pair have flourished in the new system and have been important players in back-to-back league wins over Hibs away and Cowdenbeath at home.

Former Scotland internationalist Wallace was immense in the 3-5-2 formation his boss used at Easter Road last month and produced his best display of the 2014/15 campaign.

And McGregor netted a stunning late goal to ensure the Glasgow giants picked up all three points against plucky part-time opponents Cowdenbeath at Ibrox on Saturday.

With Marius Zaliukas, who was missing last weekend after playing for Lithuania against England at Wembley on Friday night, available for selection again McCall could be set to field a three man back line again.

McCulloch, who formed a rearguard with Bilel Mohnsi and Zaliukas against Alan Stubbs's second placed side in the capital, is hopeful that will bring out the best in both McGregor and Wallace.

Speaking to the official Rangers website, he said: "Darren and Lee have both had license to go forward in the past couple of games - sometimes at the same time - which we've not had before.

"I think that it suits Darren, because he is an aggressive player and good in the air as well - it was some strike at the weekend from him.

"Waldo needs a license to go forward and that's what he's been getting recently, in the last two or three games he's probably turned in the best performances he has this season, so I'm delighted for him as well."

McCulloch, whose contract at Rangers expires at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, admitted he had been impressed with the impact club great McCall has played since taking over last month.

The 50-year-old, who has signed a short term deal until the end of the season, suffered a shaky start to his time in charge of the club he helped win nine Scottish titles in a row in the 1990s.

His struggling team drew 1-1 at home with relegation-threatened second tier club Livingston and 2-2 with part-time Alloa before finally claiming a morale-boosting victory away against Hibs.

McCulloch believes Rangers, who can finish second in the second tier table and avoid the first two play-off matches if they win all seven of their remaining league games, will go from strength to strength under McCall.

He said: "It's good to learn and play with new formations, but the main difference is that the full backs have been allowed to bomb on at the same time and that's about the only big change in that formation.

"There's many more changes that he wants to make and we all work hard on that in training and we're all behind him and looking forward to the rest of the season."