Michael Beale has confirmed that Antonio Colak will start for Rangers against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup.

The Croatian has struggled with injuries since Beale took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and Morelos has been utilised as the No1 striker.

Colak will get his chance at Ibrox in the cup this weekend though and Beale has backed the frontman to take his chance.

He said: "It is definitely a chance for Colak to play. I think he has waited frustratingly on the sidelines to get an opportunity.

"Alfredo has been in good form and in all fairness to Antonio he has not been 100 per cent fit in the time that I have been here.

"He has had a really good ten days now of solid training and he looks strong. Early days but the team news is Colak will play.

"Whether he plays with Alfredo or not we will decide nearer the time."

Beale is also relishing the variation to the norm as he looks to guide Rangers another step closer to retaining the Scottish Cup when they take on Thistle.

He continued: 

“Obviously you play the teams in the division, definitely three times, sometimes four, and if you draw them in the cup as well it becomes a bit of a Groundhog (Day) because obviously you know so much about each other and at times it can make for a stale game or a very stuffy game.

“It is nice to play a team that are not in our league but also knowing that they have nothing to lose coming to Ibrox this weekend.

“I am sure that’s what Ian McCall will be telling his team. They have a lot of Premiership experience in the team so I think it will be an interesting game.

“They are bringing 2,500 fans as well which shows you how many fans they have got.

“We have everything to gain as well, making sure that we pay justice to the importance that it has for us at Rangers.

“It is massively important. It is a competition we won last summer after a number of years and it is obviously one of the trophies we feel we can win this year.”