Rangers manager Ally McCoist has backed Francisco Sandaza and David Templeton to become valuable members of the first team having returned from injury.

The duo joined Rangers during the summer but have yet to make their mark at the club after injuries disrupted the first half of their season.

Sandaza suffered a fractured cheekbone while Templeton missed a number of weeks after damaging his ankle ligaments. However, McCoist believes that both players will now leave their injury troubles behind them and have a big impact on the rest of the season.

"I think they've both got a big role to play. They are completely different players but I think they could have a big impact on the team and the squad and results coming up," said McCoist.

"Fran is coming back from what can only be described as a horrific facial injury and I still think it will take him a wee while to get his full confidence back as much as anything. It was a really bad one but he will come back and score goals - I don't have any doubts about that at all.

"Temps will do the exact same. He will create for others and he will also chip in with important goals. He's got a great degree of quality, which makes him a favourite with the support. I would expect big things from the two of them."

Rangers currently sit nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Third Division and have won their last eight league games.