WINTER SALE AT IBROX IS NOT ON

McCoist warns silverware is at risk if Rangers let key men go

ALLY McCOIST has urged Rangers to ‘lock up’ their key players — including misfiring striker Alfredo Morelos — if they want to end the club’s long wait for silverware.

Thirteen points clear in the title race and odds-on favourites to lift the Betfred Cup, Ibrox legend McCoist believes his old team are firmly on course to lift a first major trophy since the club’s financial collapse of 2012.

But, speaking as Steven Gerrard’s side landed Royal Antwerp in yesterday’s Europa League last-32 draw, he feels they need to get through January without losing star men or they could risk slipping up on the last leg of the journey.

‘They should lock them all up till the summer,’ said McCoist. ‘It’s important to keep your good players. I’m not privy to the finances but, if a ridiculous offer comes in for any player, it doesn’t matter what club you are, then you’d have to consider it.

‘But, stating the obvious, it would be in Rangers’ best interest in terms of an opportunity to win silverware that you’d want to keep all your players tight.’

McCoist believes Morelos, with just seven goals for the season, deserves to be helped through his current barren spell.

And he dismissed the notion Rangers should take the first good offer for the out-of-form Colombian next month.

‘I don’t think Rangers are as reliant as they once were on Alfredo,’ he said.

‘They were probably a little too reliant on Morelos’ goals, because he was going through a period there when he was excellent.

‘His form’s dipped a little bit, I don’t think there’s any denying that. But he deserves to be cut a little bit of slack because of his previous goalscoring exploits.

‘It’s safe to say Steven will be looking at it. He’s got Cedric Itten, who played through the middle in Poland and scored. Kemar Roofe is a more than adequate centre-forward. You’ve got Joe Aribo, so there are different options.

‘In an ideal situation, Steven would like to keep all his players.

‘I don’t think there’s any doubt there’ll be a level of interest in some of his players because of the form they’re showing.

‘There was a period where I wouldn’t say Alfredo was bailing Rangers out exactly, but he was certainly their main goal threat.

‘ He was delivering great performances and goals. He deserved a pat on the back for that. He’ll correctly get a level of criticism at his door because he’s not doing the same now.

‘Whether Steven thinks taking him out the team now that he has strong options is the correct thing to do, time will tell.

‘ Morelos is t oo good a goalscorer not to come back into that vein of form. He’s just going through a period that all strikers go through where he’s arriving too late, he’s arriving too early, he’s miscuing things.

‘It might astound you to hear I’ve been there myself. It lasted two years at Sunderland!

‘He’ll be suffering but he’ll come through it.’

Meanwhile, Antwerp manager Ivan Leko is targeting a Europa League upset despite admitting Rangers are favourites. The Croatian coach led Antwerp to a 1-0 win over Tottenham in October on the way to finishing second in their group behind the English Premier League leaders.

However, t hey are only seventh in the Belgian top flight after 16 matches. ‘The fact that we have got to fight against Glasgow Rangers for a place in the last 16 gives me a very satisfied feeling,’ said Leko.

‘ Rangers are one of the traditionally largest clubs in Europe. But when we play to our best, we certainly have a chance.

‘Let’s be honest here, every seeded club left in the competition wanted to play us.

‘Whoever got us were always going to be the favourites and that’s the case with Rangers here. But the favourites don’t always win in football.’

Rangers will travel to the Bosuilstadion on February 18, with the return legs even days later.

Antwerp forward Lior Refaelov, who scored their winner against Spurs, said: ‘ Rangers is a serious team. Of course, they have a legend in Steven Gerrard as the coach. It is a tough draw but we could have had an even stronger team.’

lAlly McCoist was promoting Premier Sports coverage of the Betfred Cup matches between Alloa and Hibs and St Mirren and Rangers live and exclusive from 7.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.Premier Sports is available on Sky, Virgin TV and the Premier Player. Prices start from £9.99 per month.