Source: Team_Talk
Whittaker tells team-mates to step up
The Scottish champions were already without several first-team regulars and Tuesday night's extra-time Scottish Cup win over Hamilton came at a cost when Kenny Miller and Nacho Novo limped off with hamstring and ankle injuries respectively.[LNB]Both are now unlikely to play a part in Saturday's SPL clash against Hearts, with Rangers already short on attacking players.[LNB]Kyle Lafferty - who missed the cup tie with flu - could be back, but top goalscorer Kris Boyd is still recovering from a hernia operation and Steven Naismith and DaMarcus Beasley are unlikely to make their comebacks against the Jambos.[LNB]Boss Walter Smith admitted recently his compact squad was being stretched to the limit and the latest casualties mean some might say dropped points this weekend could be forgiven.[LNB]Not so, according to Whittaker, as Rangers bid to increase their lead at the summit of the SPL to 12 points ahead of Celtic's trip to St Johnstone on Sunday.[LNB]He said: "We still want to win every game we go into, no matter who is out on that pitch. We believe we can do that; whether we have first-choice players or fringe players, we believe we can win the games.[LNB]"It's bringing the squad into play, players need to come in and hopefully fill the gaps left by the boys who are injured and suspended. That's just part of football and I'm sure we will cope with that."[LNB]Whittaker came to Rangers' rescue when he grabbed a double in extra-time to dump Hamilton out of the Scottish Cup and earn a meeting with St Mirren in the fifth round.[LNB]The opener came courtesy of a lovely ball from Miller, which the striker might argue was goalbound anyway, but Whittaker made sure by rifling over the line from close-range.[LNB]And the full-back believes Miller can have no complaints about being denied his own name on the scoresheet, insisting: "I'm sure if the boot was on the other foot, he would have put it over the line as well.[LNB]"Strikers are all about goals and I'm sure he would have done it to me.[LNB]"I was delighted to see it go over the line. We had created chances in the 90 minutes and it just felt like it wasn't going to be our day.[LNB]"Their goalkeeper was on top form and we hit the woodwork twice and you kind of get that feeling that it's not going for you. I think I nicked it just before it went over the line so I'm delighted with that."[LNB]Whittaker may be one of the more versatile players in Smith's ranks but he is more than happy to leave striking duties to the experts this weekend - even if Rangers are short of numbers.[LNB]"The one position I've never played for Rangers is up front!" he laughed.[LNB]"But I'm sure there will be someone there to fill that gap and we will look forward to it."[LNB]He added: "Kris and Kenny are our goal threats. They linked up so well over December and got a lot of goals. With Kris missing, it takes a little bit of fluency out of the play but it's great to chip in with goals myself.[LNB]"Nacho has chipped in with some goals as well so it's great to have goals from other areas of the pitch."[LNB][LNB] Rangers v Hearts. Click here to bet.
