McCoist hopes for new faces

McCoist: The Rangers boss remains interested in Goian and Cuellar

Rangers boss Ally McCoist hopes to add at least one new player to his squad before Tuesday's UEFA Champions League qualifier against Malmo after beginning the new SPL season with a 1-1 draw against Hearts.

The reigning Scottish champions had hoped to begin the defence of their title with a victory, but goals in either half from David Obua and Steven Naismith ensured the points were shared at Ibrox.

Rangers now turn their focus to next week's European clash at the same venue, as they bid to take a step closer to the lucrative group stages of the Champions League.

And McCoist is keen to make one signing before then, as he said: "I've made no secret of the fact and we are all aware that we hope to bring one or two players in.

"If we can get them in beforehand, we will only have one of them who can play on Tuesday.

"I'm ruling nothing out and I'm ruling nobody out. We need players, plural, so I wouldn't rule anybody out."
Ally McCoist Quotes of the week

"If we get them in before the game, that would be great. We are certainly hoping to do that."

Palermo defender Dorin Goian appears the most likely of those on McCoist's wanted list to sign for Rangers in the coming days.

Cuellar

Asked if he was moving closer to a deal for the Romanian, McCoist added: "I hope so.

"To be honest I haven't had a chance to see Andrew [Dickson, head of football administration] after the game but I know of one or two phone calls getting made this morning."

However, he insists the capture of Goian would not necessarily mean the end of his pursuit for former Ibrox centre-half Carlos Cuellar.

He said: "I'm ruling nothing out and I'm ruling nobody out. We need players, plural, so I wouldn't rule anybody out."

The SPL flag was unfurled against a backdrop of fireworks before kick-off, but Rangers' first-half display failed to live up to the dramatic build-up.

However, McCoist refused to blame the early start date to the season for the lacklustre efforts.

He said: "I'm certainly not a fan of the early start to the season, there is no doubt about that.

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"But I wouldn't put that down as a reason for us starting the game poorly, not at all.

"To be quite honest, I thought we were disappointing in the first half. You have to give Hearts credit for the way they played but we just didn't seem to get going in the first half at all.

"You sit back and reflect and, as disappointed as I was with the first half performance, I was really pleased with the reaction from the players in the second half. We could have nicked the game."

Despite the result, McCoist is confident his side will be ready for the challenge posed by Malmo, adding: "I don't think I'll have to lift the players, to be honest.

"We have had a 1-1 draw against a team who are quite good to be fair and who are a lot of peoples' favourites to finish at least third in the league.

"I don't think I'll have to lift anybody. It will just be a matter of getting them regrouped."