ALLY MCCOIST hailed ‘terrific’ Clint Hill as he turned in a Man of the Match performance against Hearts on Saturday.

The defender was informed by boss Pedro Caixinha last week that he will not be offered a new Ibrox contract and will be leaving the Light Blues at the end of the campaign.

After being dropped for the win over Partick Thistle last weekend, Hill returned to the starting line-up against the Jambos and led by example as Caixinha’s side clinched a 2-1 win.

The Portuguese is looking to overhaul his Gers ranks during the close season as he prepares for his first full term in the Premiership next time out.

And former Ibrox boss McCoist expects defensive reinforcements to arrive sooner rather than later as Hill gets set to head for the exit door.

He said: “You have to look at the bigger picture, and the bigger picture must be surely they have got a centre half lined up.

“You are not going to tell him you don't want him next season if you have not got preparations in place for another centre half to come.

“The indication that they are releasing him would tell me, hopefully, that they have got somebody in place that will come.

“We were speaking about Clint Hill before the game and he was terrific today.

“He gave away a free kick in the first half and sometimes you have got to take one for the team.

“I think it was Cowie that was coming through and he gave away the free kick. I am not saying that is a great thing to do but he gave away a free kick to stop the Hearts attack.

“Danny Wilson against Celtic should have brought down (Mikael) Lustig and taken the free kick and he scores the goal.

“It is just an experience thing and he had it in abundance. I thought he was Man of the Match by some distance.”