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Page last updated at 11:21 GMT, Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Injuries to Kenny Miller and Nacho Novo hit Rangers

Kenny Miller and Nacho Novo
Miller and Novo are both facing time on the sidelines

Rangers are facing a striking crisis with Kenny Miller and Nacho Novo on the sidelines with hamstring and ankle injuries respectively.

Kris Boyd is still recovering from a hernia operation and Kyle Lafferty has flu, limiting manager Walter Smith's options at home to Hearts on Saturday.

"Miller will certainly be out, Nacho we will have to wait and see," said Smith.

"It will obviously affect us up front for the weekend. We will just have to manufacture something."

Steven Whittaker grabbed a double in extra-time after a goal-less 90 minutes against Hamilton Accies at Ibrox on Tuesday night in their Scottish Cup fourth-round replay.

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Miller was a constant threat to the Hamilton defence, going close on a number of occasions but ultimately failing to add to his goals tally before pulling up near the end of the extra period.

However, Smith praised the contribution of full-back Whittaker, saying: "He's got a number of goals and a handy one to have.

"But we won't have Steven Naismith or DaMarcus Beasley back. Kyle Lafferty has flu, but we may have him back. We will see.

"It was a hard night's work for us and I thought it would be like that before we started. That's how it turned out.

"We hit the crossbar a couple of times and the Hamilton goalkeeper had an excellent night. Credit to our boys, they kept going and got the goals that matter.

"I couldn't fault the creation of opportunity, it was just a difficult night to get the goals."



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see also
Rangers 2-0 Hamilton Accies (aet)
19 Jan 10 |  Scottish Cups
Gers boss waits on Boyd decision
15 Jan 10 |  Rangers
Boyd out for month after surgery
12 Jan 10 |  Rangers


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