Ayr United v Rangers: Scottish Cup clash live on Sky Sports Football
Sunday 11 February 2018 06:43, UK
Rangers boss Graeme Murty could keep faith with Josh Windass for Sunday's Scottish Cup tie at Ayr United, live on Sky Sports Football from 2.15pm.
Windass riled Gers fans with his goal celebration at Partick Thistle in midweek, drawing his finger his lips in apparent reference to criticism of his performances.
The 24-year-old scored a hat-trick against Fraserburgh in the previous round and, speaking ahead of the fifth-round tie, Murty confirmed he had apologised.
Live Scottish Cup Football
"I've spoken to him," Murty said. "Josh is aware of his responsibility both as a professional athlete and a Rangers player. He has the responsibility to conduct himself in a certain manner.
"He is a very off-the-cuff kind of guy, very much plays in the moment and I think you saw an outpouring of frustration, with his own game at times, and it is something he needs to manage better."
Insisting he has no concern about any hostility from the stands at Somerset Park, Murty added: "Josh has got broad shoulders. Development and learning is painful at times.
"Sometimes you have to make a mistake and suffer the consequences of it to grow as a person. If he does that and he grows, he could grow into some athlete and player."
Rangers are 11 points behind rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership but Murty admitted he is desperate for cup success.
"The fans have been through a great deal at this football club recently and the squad that deliver a trophy to them will see a massive outpouring of emotion," he said.
"We think that on any given day, we are more than a match for the teams in this country but we have to be in the next round. We want to be pushing at the highest level because our fans have suffered enough."
Team news
Bruno Alves returns to the Rangers squad for the Sky Sports Football clash but though the Portuguese defender has recovered from a calf injury, he is likely to start on the bench.
Ryan Jack (knee), Ross McCrorie (foot), Graham Dorrans (ankle) and Lee Wallace (hernia) remain on the sidelines with the latter set to take part in training on Saturday.
Lawrence Shankland will lead the home attack, having scored 17 league goals this season, but Ayr have a growing injury list that includes Mark Kerr, Ross Docherty, Robbie Crawford, Andy Geggan and Chris Higgins, while Steven Bell is cup-tied.
