LEWIS Macleod has been the best Rangers player this season.

So it is a serious blow to the Ibrox club to lose him to a hamstring injury.

It was very sad to see the lad being stretchered off in the Petrofac Training Cup semi-final against Alloa.

But I'm afraid Lewis is partly responsible for the knock he picked up by not doing enough stretching beforehand. He pulled up early on in the game after a run upfield. He hadn't been sprinting for the ball. That suggests he hadn't stretched properly before kick-off.

This is maybe a lesson for Lewis - and a painful one at that - that he has to be warmed up before gamese.

Not having the talented midfielder available is a huge loss for Rangers as they try to keep the pressure on Hearts in the SPFL Championship.

Having said that, it could be a chance for Dean Shiels to come in and show what he is capable of. Dean hasn't featured much this season. But he came on in midweek and scored the goal that should have secured victory for his side.

The Northern Ireland internationalist could now find himself with a starting berth and the chance to resurrect his career.

But Dean has to show Ally McCoist he deserves a place in the starting line-up which takes to the field against Cowdenbeath tomorrow.

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