Ally McCoist only had superlatives for Steven Naismith after he overcame injury to help Rangers to a 2-0 win over Aberdeen yesterday. The reigning SPL champions maintained their unbeaten run to the their title defence with a positive result at home over the Dons who fell to second bottom on the league table.
The win kept McCoist's men at the summit and the 'Gers boss was full of praise for Scotland international Naismith, who was injured prior to half-time, but remained on the pitch and came up with the second goal late in the match following Steven Davis' earlier opener.
"He took a bang on his hip bone but he showed the spirit we are needing," McCoist said.
"It would have been really easy for Naismith to just come off and get an ice pack on it but he didn't.
"He got the ice pack on at half-time and then came back out and that's the sort of mentality and attitude you need when things aren't going according to plan.
"It was all hands on deck and he epitomised that spirit."
As for Naismith's hopes of making Scotland's Euro2012 qualifier against Czech Republic on Saturday, McCoist was unsure at this early stage.
"I would have to find out tomorrow morning," he added.
"He's got an ice pack on it and I would hope from Craig and Steven's point of view that it's just a whack and he will be able to recover from it. We will have a better idea tomorrow morning."
