Whittaker facing surgery

Rangers manager Walter Smith has revealed Steven Whittaker may need an operation.

Whittaker has been out of action for most of the season with a knee injury and now faces the prospect of minor surgery to cure the problem.

He will be missing once again when Rangers visit Partick Thistle in the Co-operative Insurance Cup, along with Lee McCulloch, Steven Smith and Barry Ferguson.

Andrius Velicka is likely to be out with a sickness bug, while Kyle Lafferty is still recovering from having wisdom teeth removed.

Provisional squad: Alexander, Broadfoot, Bougherra, Weir, Dailly, Davis, Mendes, Thomson, Beasley, Novo, Boyd, Miller, McGregor, Edu, Darcheville, Aaron, McMillan, Fleck, Papac.