Raith’s Grant Anderson believes it would have been disrespectful to the Rangers squad if the five players who arrived at Ibrox on loan from Newcastle this week went straight into the team for Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie.
The Rovers player was speaking prior to the news yesterday that Rangers caretaker boss Kenny McDowall has been told he must play Magpies quintet Haris Vuckic, Remie Streete, Gael Bigirimana, Kevin Mbabu and Shane Ferguson in every game.
That will not be possible on Sunday as two of the players are currently injured.
However, the new additions will still be very much an unknown quantity to the Raith players.
Anderson said: “They have pulled five in but I don’t know much about them.
“I know a couple of the boys have sat on the bench (for the first team) so they have a future at Newcastle.
“They are good players so they could throw a couple of spanners into the works but we will just have to deal with it on the day.
“It could change the way they play dramatically.
“Personally, I think if he threw them all in it would be disrespectful to the team just now.
“But you never know, (Newcastle owner) Mike Ashley may say he wants all of these players in now.
“We will have to wait and see but it does change the way you think.
“It will though ensure we are really on our toes and sharp so it does help in a way.”
Last week, Rangers were outclassed by Celtic in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden with the Hoops cruising to a comfortable 2-0 win.
However, Anderson insists that the Ibrox outfit will be dangerous opponents with a point or two to prove against Raith.
He said: “Obviously, last week’s game is a totally different entity.
“The Old Firm match is up there on its own.
“It’s now back to the bread and butter in the Scottish Cup and they will want to do well in this game.
“They will want to go out and prove everyone wrong.
“They will be under pressure as the fans want a win and a good performance.”
Anderson is fully aware of just how difficult a task it will be at Ibrox as the last time Raith played there in October they were thumped 6-1.
However, the 28-year-old believes the Rovers players can still travel to Govan in confident frame of mind on the back of their recent five-game unbeaten run.
He said: “The boys are a bit confused sometimes as we are putting in good performances elsewhere like at Tynecastle.
“But then we go to Ibrox and play a lot better and concede six.
“Despite getting battered 6-1 there were positives to take from the game.
“However, the way we defended as a team wasn’t good enough that day.
“We should now just go out and keep playing the same way we have been in defence and attack.
“If we do that, then we shouldn’t do too badly.
“You can’t go to places like Ibrox and not be confident.
“You have to believe in yourself and do what’s right for the team.”