Rangers can't afford slip-up before huge derby double-header

[BBC] The news of Lawrence Shankland's prolonged absence is another bitter blow to Derek McInnes and Rangers. It follows the injury to fellow striker Youssef Chermiti and supporters will be even more keen to see recent big-money signing Kevin Kelsy quickly step up to the plate. Having said that, I wouldn't be too surprised if Ryan Naderi leads the line against St Mirren. He played well as Shankland's replacement on Saturday and also against the Buddies in the 5-1 League Cup win earlier in the season. Rangers' overall performance against Motherwell was heralded as their best of the season so far and the scoreline should have been more emphatic. If they can hit similar heights against St Mirren on Wednesday evening and add a more clinical edge - as they did in the cup game - they should be heading into Sunday's League Cup quarter-final meeting with Celtic in reasonable fettle. It goes without saying that game is enormous for McInnes and Rangers. A victory would do so much psychological good for a team still looking to recover from a hugely disappointing start to the campaign. On the flip side, defeat before the following weekend's league visit to Celtic Park would be massively damaging. Before that huge double-header, Rangers must ensure they record a fourth consecutive league win by beating a St Mirren side that has impressed many this season, other than on their previous visit to Ibrox. Fans will be hoping for a first sight of new loan signing Badredine Bouanani as well as continuing improvements from the likes of Dan Neil and Manny Fernandez, as Rangers try to leapfrog Saints and Hearts in the table and keep Celtic within view.