McCoist Backs Simonsen

Photo by Jeff Holmes Ally McCoist insists Rangers are still in safe hands with Steve Simonsen after first-choice keeper Cammy Bell was ruled out for another three months. The former Kilmarnock stopper has not played since dislocating his shoulder against Falkirk four weeks ago. But the 28-year-old could now be out until Christmas after popping the joint for a second time at training on Thursday. Bell is due to be operated on early next week but McCoist insists the Light Blues' promotion hopes will be properly guarded by stand-in keeper Simonsen. The manager said: "We always knew there was a possibility of Cammy's shoulder coming out again but we felt it was a gamble worth taking to try and strengthen it. "That was the advice we took from the medical people but sadly it came out again yesterday in training. Now we're going to get an operation for Cammy as soon as possible. "He will be out for months rather than weeks. I'm loath to put a figure on it but I'd imagine it would be three months anyway. "But I have confidence in Steve. When we re-signed him at the start of the season we were very pleased to have him because we felt he was a good stand-in who came in and did well in Cammy's absence last year. "It's obviously a blow to Cammy himself and indeed the team. But at the same time we are reasonably happy with our substitute keepers who can come in and do a good job." McCoist will hope to notch up another morale-boosting Scottish Championship victory over Alloa at Recreation Park on Saturday. The Rangers boss has had to cope with a series of negative stories over the past fortnight as the Ibrox off-field saga refuses to die down. But after last Friday's 4-0 romp over Raith and the 1-0 League Cup win over Inverness on Tuesday - the Gers' first victory over a top-flight side for two years - the boss is at last pleased to see his side generating some positive headlines. "It's been a pleasing week," he declared. "In the last three years or so, it's been important not to get too downbeat when things are not going too well, and not to get too carried away when you do get a couple of good results. "It's about keeping a level head on it. "So I'm not getting carried away now - but I'd certainly say the last couple of games have been extremely pleasing. "We've beaten one of the in-form sides in the country in Inverness. Up until Saturday they hadn't lost a goal, never mind a game. "The obvious thing is that you hope the lads continue to get great confidence from that game in particular, as well as the Raith game on the Friday, that was perhaps even more pleasing with the way we played." The brightest spark of all from the last week for McCoist has been the form of 20-year-old playmaker Lewis Macleod. The Scotland youth international missed the second half of last season with a virus that affected the muscles around his heart but has responded with five goals in the opening nine games of the season. And his best-friend and flat-mate Fraser Aird believes there is more to come. "It's all down to my cooking the night before the game,'' joked the winger. "He wasn't 100 per cent after the virus but it just shows you how good the wee man really is. "He has been doing brilliant for the team and the gaffer and boys are delighted with him. "I was there for him when he was down last season because of the illness. He was there for me when I was out of the team. That's what best friends do. "Even though he is my best friend, I also know he is a brilliant footballer and I am always learning from him. "He is over his illness now and hopefully he can look to the future and keep improving."