SANDY Jardine believes Ally McCoist will reap rich rewards in the future from having Rangers players involved in the Scotland set-up.

Ibrox legend Jardine is pleased Allan McGregor and Steven Whittaker are away in Cyprus with Craig Levein's national squad.

The Glasgow club's representation would have been even greater had Steven Naismith and Lee Wallace not picked up injuries.

Former full-back Jardine, who played 38 times for Scotland in his heyday in the 1970s, feels he benefited greatly from inter- national football.

And he is adamant the Scottish champions will get better as a result of McGregor and Whittaker playing for their country.

He said: "Rangers have supplied more Scotland inter-nationalists than any other single club during its history.

"Therefore, the backbone of the Rangers team has always been Scottish. This current side is no different.

"Rangers ultimately benefit from having players involved at international level. It is a great stage to play on.

"The main aim of the squad is to qualify for the finals of a tournament. If that ever happens, we will be the ones who get the spin off.

"That happened back in my day. Kenny Dalglish, Danny McGrain, Davie Hay, Joe Jordan and myself all benefited from playing in the 1974 World Cup."

Jardine reckons McGregor and Whittaker will be in excellent hands in Cyprus under Scotland boss Craig Levein.

The former Hearts co-boss was responsible for the Tynecastle club signing Levein from Cowdenbeath as a boy.

And he feels his old protégé, whose side take on Cyprus in a friendly on Friday night, is doing a great job in the high-profile job in difficult circumstances. He said: "Craig was an absolutely exceptional player.

"If he hadn't picked up such a bad injury I think he would have won over 100 caps. He was always an outstanding athlete and, unusually for a centre-half, he was very intelligent, too!

"Seriously, though, whenever you told him something he took it on board very quickly. You never had to go back over it with him.

"He has enjoyed a very successful managerial career. I am sure he has picked up something from every manager he has played with, but he has done it all himself."

Jardine added: "Scotland are not blessed with a huge number of great players at this present moment in time.

"But what Craig has now is the nucleus of a good squad. What is more, they are young – and I think they will improve and get better.

"You have to say that he is maximising the potential of what he has got. If any manager can do that, they will do alright."