Boyd can bounce back with a Cup Final hat-trick ..

Byline: Alan Rough 

HAMPDEN is ready made for Kris Boyd this afternoon.

The Rangers striker has endured a frustrating season, finding himself behind Jean-Claude Darcheville, Daniel Cousin and Nacho Novo in the pecking order.

There must be a doubt over his future especially as Walter Smith is expected to line up a new striker for next season.

The Ibrox boss has already indicated that he going to freshen up his squad this afternoon as his players come to the end of their marathon season.

And Boyd will surely be the first name on the team sheet to play Queen of the South.

The game will be made for him because if you look at last month's semi-final against Aberdeen, Rangers can expect to get chances in this match.

Having lost the UEFA Cup final and having lost the league on Thursday night, it is imperative for them to win the Scottish Cup and complete a double.

There will of course be massive disappointment that the Quadruple has been reduced to a "mere" double, but if you consider the expectations at the start of the season then it's been a terrific effort from the Light Blues.

Mind you, if they were to slip up against Queens then it would not be such a rosy picture.

I know Rangers have had problems against saides like Partick Thistle and St Johnstone this season but I really don't see it this time.

It's funny, every time a "no hoper" takes on one of the Old Firm in a final my mind goes back to 1971 when I was in the Thistle side which was 4-0 up against Celtic before half-time.

Despite their heroics against Aberdeen, I don't see Gordon Chisholm's men pulling off a shock like that.

In fact, with Boyd in the side I can see him grabbing a hat-trick and Rangers winning by three or four nil.

If Queens allow the same number of chances as they did against Aberdeen I can see them being hammered because Carlos Cuellar and David Weir won't be as easy to get past as the Dons defence was. Admittedly Rangers will have to lift themselves after the SPL disappointment but they will do that because what kind of bragging rights will their fans have if they lose the final to Queen of the South? The CIS Cup would look pretty lonely in the trophy cabinet.

Queens should just go to Hampden and enjoy the experience and hope they can make a decent impact.

Gordon Chisholm was the Dundee United manager against Celtic three years ago and he has experienced players like Jamie McQuilken and Stevie Tosh who have been in cup finals before. They may benefit from the fact the Rangers fans are disappointed and may turn on their side if things start going wrong again.

They have the ghost of a chance but even though the Ibrox club have lost players like Chris Burke and Stevie Naismith who would surely have featured, the SPL club will be too strong.

It's the perfect opportunity for Boyd to show a Britainwide audience what he can offer and I'm sure no one will be watching more closely than the man who signed him for Rangers in the first place, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish.

I'm sure the striker - who remains the club's top scorer by far - will relish the opportunity and cup final goals are cup final goals and I expect him to get a few today.

Boyd has inisisted he wants to stay at Rangers but if he's not going to be a regular then maybe he would be best to take on of the offers which comes up over the summer.

And if he has to go he may as well go out on a high with a cup final goal rush.

CAPTION(S):

KEY MAN Kris Boyd