RANGERS legend Ally McCoist yesterday helped to launch the testimonial match for the man he believes is the greatest Scottish goalscorer of his generation – Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd.

McCoist, who played with Boyd at Kilmarnock at the end of his career and managed him at Rangers, will take charge of a Rangers Euro XI in a game against a Kilmarnock Heroes XI at Rugby Park on Saturday, November 17.

The Ibrox great is looking forward to meeting up with Charlie Adam, Boyd, Carlos Cuellar and a host of other famous names from the past and believes the occasion will be a fitting tribute to the former Scotland centre forward.

“What can you say about Boydy?” he said. “In all honesty, in my opinion, he is probably the greatest Scottish goalscorer of his generation. I really think so.

“I love watching him. A lot of his talen is natural. if not all of it. You didn’t really need to coach Boydy. You would maybe have a wee chat with him about where to go occasionally. But in terms of the actual finish he knew, Boydy knew.

“He was instinctive. He knew when to keep it down, he knew when to lift it, he knew when to slew it, he knew when to hammer it. He was good in the air, he was a good header of the ball Boydy.

“Boydy knew that right from the word go. I would watch him and when he was a kid you could see he could finish. I don’t think he needed a lot of coaching in terms of his finishing. I had one or two wee chats with him about where to go and when to go there. But in front of goal he was absolutely excellent.

“That Dundee United game at Ibrox (in 2009) was ridiculous. He got three in the space of 10 minutes. That is as good as anything I have seen domestically in Scotland at any time at any level. His finishing at that particular time was relentless.”

McCoist, who worked with Boyd at Rangers when he was assistant to Walter Smith and then when he was manager in his own right, feels not being afraid to miss is one of the greatest strengths in his former player’s make-up.

‘It doesn’t bother him,” he said. “He had a game at Raith Rovers I couldn’t believe. It was like Peter van Sebo! He couldn’t hit a cow on the backside with a banjo! He just shrugged his shoulders and scored two in his next game.”

Ally McCoist was speaking at the launch of the Kris Boyd Testimonial Game at Rugby Park on Saturday, November 17. Kick off 1pm with tickets priced between £5 and £10. Buy online at www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk or call 01563 545310.