DAMARCUS Beasley today insisted Rangers can cope with the loss of midfield enforcer Kevin Thomson and maintain their lead over Celtic at the top of the SPL.

Thomson limped off the park in the first half of his side’s resounding 6-1 win over Motherwell at Ibrox on Saturday with a calf strain.

Ranggers manager Walter Smith fears the player is doubtful for the meetings with Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday, then Dundee United at home on Wednesday week and then Celtic away on January 3. But born-again winger Beasley, who netted in his second straight game, reckons the Gers have enough strength in depth to cope without the influential player during their crucial run.

He said: “It was a real blow to lose Kevin so early against Motherwell as he is such a good player and important to the team.

“But Lee came in and did really well and helped us get another good victory.

“It looks like Kevin is going to be out for a short spell, but we have players who are coming back.

“Pedro Mendes and Mo Edu will return and help us.

“Mo has been involved in training for a while and, hopefully, is going to take part in a bounce game this week.

“After that, I don’t think it will be too long until we see him in the team.”

United States internationalist Beasley, who has stressed he is keen to stay at Rangers as long as he is playing first-team football ahead of the World Cup, reckons whoever replaces Thomson will relish playing with Steven Davis.

He has put his poor early season form behind him in recent weeks with a string of outstanding individual performances and was sensational against Motherwell.

He set up Kenny Miller for his first goal and Kris Boyd for his team’s second strike at the start of the second half.

Davis was a deserved recipient of the Man-of-the-Match award.

Beasley said: “Steven has been playing brilliantly and whoever joins him in the centre of midfield can only benefit from playing alongside him.

“He was superb on Saturday. He seemed to be involved in all of our best passages of play and set up our first two goals. He didn’t stop running for the 90 minutes.”