Strikers battle it out for Old Firm Cup places

Rangers striker Steven Thompson is hoping he has done enough to fire his way into Alex McLeish’s first-team plans for the Tennent’s Scottish Cup clash against Celtic.

The Old Firm showdown takes place on January 9 and, with the winners of the tie favourites to claim the silverware at the end of the season, it is a game that every players is desperate to be involved in.

Thompson knows he faces stiff competition for a place up front, with Nacho Novo, Dado Prso and Shota Arveladze all in the running but he is hoping his strike against Motherwell yesterday has provided a timely reminder for McLeish.

Novo grabbed a double against the Fir Park side and Arveladze was also on the scoresheet as Rangers romped to a 4-1 win at Ibrox.

But Novo misses this weekend’s Bank of Scotland Premier League game against Dundee United through suspension and Thompson – who has been troubled by injury recently – hopes it will be another chance for him to impress.

Speaking about his goal, he said: “It will have helped. Nacho is suspended for the game against Dundee United at the weekend.”