ANDY Little today predicted he can form a potent strike partnership with Rangers new boy Francisco Sandaza at Ibrox this season.

Little and his team-mate bagged four goals between them in their first start together for the Light Blues against tiny East Stirlingshire on Saturday.

They will face far tougher opposition than John Coughlin's part-timers this season – especially tonight in the Ramsdens Cup when they travel to face Falkirk.

Nevertheless, the Ulsterman was still hugely encouraged by how he fared in his first full game with the skilful Spanish sharpshooter at the weekend.

And the 23-year-old anticipates there is more to come from the former St Johnstone hitman once his match fitness and sharpness in front of goal improves with more games.

Despite linking up with his new team-mates well and getting himself in some dangerous positions in the Third Division match in Govan, Sandaza looked decidedly rusty.

Little said: "As Francisco gets matches under his belt as the season progresses I have no doubt at all that he will just get better and better.

"He is in a similar position to me in the respect that he hasn't had a full pre-season. It is going to take him a while to find his feet at a major club like Rangers.

"I was really pleased for him that he got his first goal for the club at the weekend against East Stirlingshire in what was only his first game. I am sure there will be much more to come from him.

"He is a top quality player. His movement in the final third and his reading of the game are clearly excellent. He is the sort of individual you like to play alongside. I am looking forward to the season.

"The club has managed to bring in several players – Kevin Kyle, Francisco Sandaza, Dean Shiels – who can play up front. I like playing through the middle myself, but I am looking forward to playing with all of them."

Little chose, unlike many of his old team-mates, to return to Rangers this summer despite the Glasgow club being reinvented in the bottom tier of Scottish senior football.

The Northern Ireland forward, who won his eighth cap for his country against Finland last week, was told that playing in the Third Division would not impact on his international ambitions by his national boss Michael O'Neill.

The Enniskillen man had also endured a difficult time with injuries earlier in his career and was keen to repay the club for standing by him and nursing him back to full health.

Little, who has scored five goals in four games so far this term, had no hesitation in putting pen to paper on a two-year contract.

The lifelong Rangers supporter's decision was vindicated by his hat-trick – his first for his boyhood heroes – in the emphatic 5-1 victory over the Shire.

His stunning individual showing came a week after he had netted a last-minute equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Peterhead at Balmoor in their opening league game of the campaign.

Little is optimistic he can pitch in with even more in the months ahead and play a major role in helping his club secure a place in the upper echelons of the Scottish game.

"I thought I could have had more at the weekend to be honest with you," he said. "I had two decent chances that I passed up. I could have had more goals.

"I will not be sitting back just because I scored three goals. I am always looking to improve and am determined to follow up on the start I have had.

"The manager has told me he is keen for me to get forward as much as possible and get into the box no matter where I am playing. He wants me to score as much as I possibly can.

"I am happy to play wherever the team needs me. I have shown throughout my career that I am capable of playing in a variety of positions and as long as I am getting on the pitch I am happy."

Little knows that will be no easy feat against a Falkirk team who beat a Rangers side packed full of multi-million pound stars at home in the League Cup last season.

He said: "This will be a tough game for the team. We saw last season what a talented young side Falkirk are and we will have to be at our very best to progress to the next round. I wasn't involved in that game but, by all accounts, they deserved their win.

"No disrespect to the teams we have played so far, but Falkirk will be the best team we have come up against this season. We will need to be at our very best to get the result that we want.

"Having said that, if we apply ourselves and go about our business in the correct manner then we can get the result we want."