RANGERS boss Pedro Caixinha should have no fears about pitching rookie defender Ross McCrorie into the heat of an Old Firm battle this weekend.

That is the verdict of keeper Jak Alnwick after the 19-year-old made his Light Blues bow in the Betfred Cup win over Partick Thistle.

McCrorie was handed his first competitive appearance for the Gers as a second-half replacement for Bruno Alves at Firhill on Tuesday.

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The Scotland youth international helped Caixinha’s side to a 3-1 win as they booked their place in the last four of the competition.

And Alnwick has backed McCrorie to handle the occasion against Celtic if he is required to step in to a starting spot at Ibrox.

He said: “I think he has got a massive future. If he keeps doing what he’s doing and stays on the right path I don’t see why he can’t be whatever he wants to be. 

“He is a composed centre-half, is incredible with both feet and for his age he’s very mature. You could see the other night he dealt with Conor Sammon, who is one of the big men in this league, quite well. I don’t see why he won’t be up there at the top in the years to come.

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“That is why these lads are at the club. They’re not at Rangers just to be a spare part. 

“They’re here because they are good young players. They are ready to step in. 

“I am guessing that is why he has been around the building. He will have been learning a lot from Bruno. I have got no doubt that if he does have to play he will be fine.”

The loss of Alves would be a major blow for Caixinha as he prepares for the first Old Firm clash of the campaign this weekend.

McCrorie has had loan spells at Ayr United and Dumbarton in recent seasons as he has been given a taste of first team football.

Read more: Rangers legend John Brown finds it hard to be optimistic before this first Old Firm match

And Alnwick believes he can repay Caixinha’s faith in him after the Gers boss tipped the stopper for a bright future in the game.

He said: “Day to day, he is quite vocal in training. As a lad he is quite a quiet lad. But when you have a conversation with him he is very mature for his age. 

“I haven’t known him a long time, but I wouldn’t have said he was still a teenager. I am sure he is going to keep taking everything in his stride. Hopefully he can be a big thing.

“I have played with quite a few people and I am not going to compare him with anyone, but [he reminds me of] Colocinni who I played with at Newcastle. Colocinni is an international centre half, but in terms of the way they play they are similar. 

“They are good on the ball, can use both feet, are calm. They are a million miles apart in terms of where they are at now. But if he keeps working hard there is no reason why he can’t be up there with the qualities that he’s got.”

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Rangers will head into the Celtic clash on the back of a crucial cup success thanks to goals from Carlos Pena, Daniel Candeias and Eduardo Herrera.

But Alnwick also played a key part against the Jags as he filled in for Wes Foderingham between the sticks once again.

He said: “I don’t pick the team. At the end of the day, Wes has been excellent for the past year, two years, however long he has been here. 

“There can be no doubting that. He is a top goalkeeper. I have just got to do what I can do in the games that I get. I have just got to do what I can for the team. 

“That is what I tried to do on Tuesday night. It isn’t a personal thing for me, it is about winning the competition and getting a trophy for Rangers.”