RANGERS boss Stuart McCall has expressed sympathy with crocked Newcastle United loan star Gael Bigiriman over his injury nightmare.

 

Bigiriman hasn't kicked a ball for the Ibrox club due to a medical condition that was diagnosed before he signed last month.

And Gers interim chairman Paul Murray this week revealed the midfielder and his four St. James's Park team mates hadn't undergone an examination.

Murray also told how the SPFL Championship club were paying for the quintet - even though only two of them, Remi Streete and Haris Vuckic, have played.

The revelations about the actions of the former Rangers board have provoked understandable anger among the Light Blues faithful.

Yet McCall has told how he was looking forward to working with the 21-year-old when he replaced Kenny McDowall earlier this month.

And he stressed that he felt sorry for the Burundi-born player due to the position that he has found himself in.

He said: "He's got a medical condition and it's a personal matter that is between himself and his family, our doc and the consultant. It's a real shame.

"I remembered his name. He went to Newcastle from Coventry for big money - a million quid - and I was excited when I came in here at the thought of having him for the team.

"Unfortunately, because of the medical condition he's got, he can't be involved. But it's not the lad's fault, it's not the kid's fault.

"He's up here just now and he goes around with a smile on his face. He works with the fitness coach. As much as it might be a disappointment for the club that we can't use him, we've got to think of the lad.

"He's in a position where he can't play. He can't go back to Newcastle and play for anyone else. So, it's actually ruined him, if you like, the past few months. It is unfortunate for him."

Meanwhile, McCall has revealed he will prevent Marius Zaliukas from taking to the field against Cowdenbeath- despite the centre half being desperate to play.

Zaliukas has asked to be involved in the league meeting at Ibrox today - despite being involved with Lithuania against England at Wembley last night.

But McCall won't allow the defender to play in a second competitive match in 24 hours after locking horns with Roy Hodgson's side.

He said: "Marius said that he will fly up from London in the morning after playing at Wembley and has offered his services. But I said to him: 'I think you will need a good night's sleep and a good day's rest after chasing Welbeck and Rooney around Wembley'.

"He is coming back up and he is coming to the game because he wants to be involved, which is good. However, I think he is kidding himself on if he thinks he can play against England at night and then play for us the next day.

"He lands at 10.30am after flying up from London. It is a good attitude, though, and that is what we want."

Meanwhile, McCall has warned his Rangers players to forget about their impressive showing against Hibs and focus fully on the remaining games of the Championship campaign.

The Gers were widely praised for their display in the 2-0 win at Easter Road on Sunday against a team they had lost to three times before this term.

But the former Bradford and Motherwell boss is keen for them to reproduce their form against opponents they drew 0-0 with at Central Park earlier this month and pick up another three points.

He said: "I think the confidence side shows after you've beaten a side that's had your number. So that's a difference. But I don't want to keep looking back.

"Yes, there's definitely been a buoyancy in the training, which you would expect. But, we're under no illusions how difficult it will be from now on. We have to work game by game. They will bring their own difficulties.The focus obviously is on Cowdenbeath tomorrow.

"But then if you want to look further ahead, we've got Hearts at home and Queen of the South away, probably as two difficult games as you'd get.

"The champions and then going down to Dumfries and how well they played against Rangers the last time. So, we'll focus on this game and not get carried away with anything.

"We have seen an improvement each game. We need to continue that. The Alloa game was a body blow with their late goal sucking a bit of the momentum out of us again.

"But we rallied and got a good result against Hibs. It puts a smile on faces, but we need to continue that form."

McCall has dismissed suggestions that staying in the second tier would be helpful to Rangers given their off-field difficulties - and stressed it would be to the benefit of the whole of Scottish football if they did go up.

He said: "I'm sure if we did manage to get promoted this year then I don't think any of the Rangers support would be happy with us saying: 'We'll just look to consolidate'. But if you end up going up next season then, financially, the rewards would be great and not just for Rangers.

"The league would likely get a sponsor again, the season tickets would sell, the club would be on an upward curve. If, and it's a big if, we did get promoted then I don't think it would take much for us to get up."