Cousin too late for Pars as international clearance fails to arrive before deadline

Daniel Cousin will be denied a Rangers debut second time around against Dunfermline on Saturday after international clearance failed to arrive before Friday night’s SPL deadline.

The Gabon striker, who has agreed a 7,500-per-week deal until the end of the season, had hoped to be in Glasgow on Friday, but changes to his travel plans meant he was unable to fly out of his homeland until late in the evening.

Barring any more delays, he is due to arrive in Edinburgh early on Saturday morning via a connection at Paris.

Heads up: Cousin in action for Gabon against Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations

Cousin then intends to travel to the
Rangers team hotel before likely being in the stands at East End Park to
watch Ally McCoist’s men take on the SPL’s bottom club in the midday
kick-off.

The SFA and
Rangers have been working to gain formal clarification from the Gabon FA
that Cousin’s contract with local side Sapins expired during the
January transfer window to leave him as a free agent.

It’s
understood there was progress on that front on Friday but not enough to
beat the 5pm registration deadline for Saturday's SPL matches.

That
will have come as a blow to McCoist, who will again be left with David
Healy as his only fit, experienced striker as Rangers seek to move to
within a point of Celtic before the leaders kick off against Inverness
CT at 3pm.

The Ibrox boss
allowed defender Jordan McMillan to leave Ibrox to join Dunfermline last
month and has also loaned the Fife club midfielder Kyle Hutton.

McCoist
watched Jim McIntyre’s side draw 1-1 with Kilmarnock on Tuesday night
and is wary of the threat they the pose, despite not having won an SPL
game at home.

Heading back: Cousin in action for Rangers during his first spell with the club

‘I know Jim well,’ said McCoist. ‘There is nothing worse than an animal that is fighting for survival.

‘Having been at their game in midweek, that’s exactly what Jim’s team were like. It was interesting to hear the comments of the vast majority of people after the game, the managers and some of the pundits.

‘Dunfermline had two fantastic chances to win the game, through Andy Kirk and Liam Buchanan.

‘I can’t argue with the view Kilmarnock were probably the better team on the night. But, at the same time, Dunfermline certainly had chances to win the game.

‘Jordan is with them now and I think he was a little bit unlucky at Rangers. He had one or two injuries which kept him out at times. He came in a few times this season and I thought he did very well, especially at Motherwell and in one or two friendlies. He was at the club for eight years and we just thought it was maybe time for him to go and get a regular game somewhere. He did fine in his debut on Tuesday night, as did big Kyle Hutton.

‘Having spoken to Jordan at length, he just wanted to get playing.
‘Hopefully, he will get the opportunity to do that.’

Under pressure: Ally McCoist watches his side go down to Scottish Cup defeat against Dundee United last weekend

The SPL provides Rangers’ only chance of success this season after they crashed out of the William Hill Scottish Cup last weekend with a 2-0 home defeat to Dundee United.

McCoist is well aware that opposing teams will try to exploit any vulnerability in their ranks.

‘Absolutely, I think that’s the case,’ he added. ‘Dundee United started the game very well, pressed us and looked comfortable on the ball.

‘But, then again, I can’t really look to other teams. Obviously you watch their games and look at their tactics, but it’s more about what we do, how we approach it and how we take the game to the opposition.

‘I take the point on board and United were a very good example of that last week. But, in my eyes, it’s more about what we do.

‘I still feel we certainly have good enough players to go and win games. That’s what we aim to do.’