Daly keeps his counsel
Rangers striker Jon Daly insists he would never shout his mouth off like team-mate Fraser Aird did about title rivals Hearts.
Despite trailing the Jambos by 13 points in the race for automatic promotion, the young winger claimed on Wednesday that the Ibrox side still have the "better squad and better individual players".
The debate could be settled on Friday night when the sides meet in what is a win-or-bust clash for the Light Blues' Scottish Championship title ambitions.
But Irishman Daly says it is not his style to copy Canadian youth international Aird and disrespect an opponent.
He said: "That's obviously Airdy's opinion. That's why we all love football - everybody has different opinions on the game.
"But that's not something you're going to hear me shouting, saying that we have got better players.
"I have to give Hearts respect, they have had a fantastic start to the season and have carried that on. They are up there on merit.
"You have to give them credit for that and it is up to us to win tomorrow and try to close that gap so that we can apply the right type of pressure on Hearts and allow us to catch them."
But caretaker boss Kenny McDowall defended Aird - insisting the 19-year-old was only responding to comments made by new Hearts striker Genero Zeefuik, who claimed victory for the Gorgie side would kill off Rangers' title hopes for good.
"I think what he said was that we have got a good squad of players and he has every right to say that," said McDowall. "We do have a good squad of players.
"But Hearts have got every right to say they have got a good squad of players. They are sitting 13 points clear right now, so why not?
"Fraser was reacting to a statement which was a bit disrespectful, saying the league campaign was over, and he has every right to say that."
Goalkeeper Cammy Bell is still the only absentee for Rangers as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery.
Hearts duo Osman Sow and Dale Carrick are pushing for involvement following injury, while another forward, Soufian El Hassnaoui, is still out with an ankle problem alongside left-back Kevin McHattie (knee).
Head coach Robbie Neilson said of Rangers: "They've got top quality players there, international players, so it will be a very difficult game for us.
"It's up to us to focus on ourselves. We know what we're going to do, we'll see how it pans out on the night."
Source: PA
