FORMER Rangers boss Stuart McCall reckons it would be a risk worth taking to pitch Martyn Waghorn into Old Firm action on Sunday.

The striker has not played since suffering knee ligament damage in the Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock but has refused to rule himself out of contention for the semi-final showdown with Celtic at Hampden.

McCall was part of the Light Blues side that lifted the League Cup in 1993 as Ally McCoist returned from a broken leg to net a superb overhead kick winner against Hibernian at Parkhead.

And the Ibrox legend knows Waghorn will be desperate to take to the field at the National Stadium as Mark Warburton’s side bid for a final spot.

McCall told SportTimes: “I think because of his injury and with it being his knee, first and foremost he has got to be medically fine.

“I saw his interview and he was definitely very positive in his mind, which is what you want from a player and that is good. But if he hasn’t had a lot of contact training, it is a big gamble to start.

“I think for him to start, with his match fitness, that is a no. As long as his injury has healed and the physio is happy, I don’t think it would be a massive gamble to have him on the bench and to have him up your sleeve for 15 minutes.

“To start him, I don’t think that will be in Mark’s head, as positive as Martyn was.

“I don’t think they would take a risk with his fitness if they weren’t sure. He won’t be anywhere near 100% match fit but they have got a good medical department there and they will put Martyn first.

“It won’t be a case of saying ‘it is an Old Firm semi-final so play him’. They won’t do that.

“But, if he is medically right then I think he could make the squad. I think the most Martyn could hope for would be a spot on the bench.

“But you saw what happened with Coisty when he came off the bench, it is Roy of the Rovers stuff. It is good that he is positive and that is a big thing.

“Depending on what has happened in the last couple of days, he could maybe get himself on the bench and then he still has his chance of the fairy tale.”

Rangers head to Hampden high in confidence after clinching the Championship title and Petrofac Training Cup in recent days but still huge underdogs for the derby duel.

Celtic ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in the League Cup last term but McCall knows Warburton’s side pose a far different threat this time around.

He said: “If Rangers can manage to get the first goal then it will be some game because the pressure will be huge. The pressure is all on Celtic, I don’t think there is any doubt about that.

“There is always pressure on players and nobody wants to lose an Old Firm game.

“Mark has already said they are looking at the bigger picture but the expectation is that Rangers have got a chance.

“Are people going there expecting them to win? Maybe not. All the Celtic fans will be expecting Celtic to win so there is far more pressure on Celtic than Rangers at this stage.

“Last season, I think the fans, and maybe even some of the players, weren’t looking at it and looking forward to it.

“It was more of a ‘don’t get a doing’. I don’t think there is any of that mind set this time.

“They are not daft and Rangers are still underdogs but not to the extent they were last year.

“Celtic have got the stronger squad and better players in a lot of areas but Rangers aren’t too far behind them now.”