Ally McCoist has insisted that Kris Boyd can score goals in the Champions League, despite the striker remaining on the bench against Stuttgart on Wednesday night.
Boyd has been in the news this week without setting foot on the pitch, having reiterated his refusal to play for Scotland while George Burley is manager and watching from the sidelines as his Rangers team-mates earned a 1-1 draw in Germany.
Despite Boyd’s prolific scoring record in domestic football, Walter Smith has preferred to use other strikers at the head of his preferred 4-5-1 formation in Europe. This has added to a perception that while Boyd may be effective against most Scottish opposition he lacks the ability to be a force at a higher level. However, Rangers’ assistant manager McCoist has argued that this is not the case and that the ex-Kilmarnock hitman is in the club’s plans.
"Of course he has, absolutely. Kris Boyd's got a place in our Rangers team,” he said.
"Anybody who scores goals like Kris Boyd can would feature in anybody's plans."
McCoist also defended the formation Rangers used on Wednesday evening, claiming that it still gave the side the opportunity to win games. The 4-5-1 tactics has prompted comparison with the much derided approach Rangers took in their run to the UEFA Cup final in 2007.
"It may not be the most attacking team, but you pick the team to win a game and that's what you do," McCoist argued.
"We'll do the exact same against the group favourites.
"It's all about picking that side you think can get you the three points.
"If we're going to get three points, we'll have to defend well against Sevilla."
