Outstanding and excellent: Rangers hero Ally McCoist praises Bates and McCrorie

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Ally McCoist has hailed Rangers duo David Bates and Ross McCrorie.

Rangers hero Ally McCoist has praised Ibrox duo David Bates and Ross McCrorie in an interview with The Scottish Sun this week.

The Gers have impressed in 2018 despite two consecutive defeats, and part of their resurgence since Pedro Caixinha’s exit has been a return to relying on domestic players.

Whilst Caixinha focused heavily on players he knew from Portugal and Mexico, interim boss Graeme Murty has gone back to basics and helped Scottish players thrive.

Greg Docherty has starred in midfield since his move from Hamilton Academical, Jason Cummings has arrived to boost the attack, whilst Jamie Murphy has impressed with three goals and three assists in 11 games.

Murphy’s form for Rangers saw him earn a Scotland call-up during the recent international break, and some now hope that other Gers players can force their way into the squad under new manager Alex McLeish.

Rangers do have two young talents who could help supplement McLeish’s youthful options at the back, given that Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Liam Lindsay and John Souttar should all be in contention.

Now though, Rangers hero Ally McCoist has backed Rangers centre backs David Bates and Ross McCrorie for international recognition, suggesting they should be looking to get themselves into the squad for end-of-season friendlies against Peru and Mexico.

McCoist told The Scottish Sun that he feels McCrorie has been ‘outstanding’ and Bates ‘excellent’ this season, and praised Rangers for going back to an approach of focusing on young, home-grown talent.

“Those games are 100 per cent an opportunity for players,” said McCoist. “I’d imagine there might be one or two call-offs for the South America trip. But as one door closes for players, another opens. Those two games, more than anything, will be an opportunity to have a look at some younger boys.”

“McCrorie has been outstanding from Rangers’ point of view and Bates was excellent when he came on at Celtic Park, then he got the injury in the game at Ibrox. Nowadays Rangers are a completely different proposition to go to. They’re back in an arena where young home-grown talent will look at the club and say ‘I’ll go there and get a chance’, and if they do well, every kid wants to play for their country,” he added.