Michael Beale is hopeful Malik Tillman will be fit enough to return for Rangers in next weekend's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Raith Rovers.

The Ibrox boss revealed the midfielder had pulled up stiff in training this week but is a potential option for midweek.

Tillman - who did play in the Viaplay Cup final against Celtic - was not involved in the Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox.

Instead, Beale decided not to risk the midfielder and instead give him time to recover with a return for the Scottish Cup planned.

He said: "Malik tried to train in the middle of the week. He just felt stiff in a number of areas.

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"We just decided not to take the risk. We felt we had enough for this game without him.

"And obviously we have a quarter-final coming up which we are earmarking for his return."

Quizzed on whether Tillman could make the match against Hibs in midweek, Beale added: "It's an option, mate. It's an option, but obviously, priorities and the team played well today, so who are you taking out?"

The Rangers boss also provided an update on youngster Alex Lowry who suffered an injury setback last month.

The creative midfielder was ruled out after a non-contact training injury ahead of the Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle - which he was set to start.

Lowry - who the Ibrox supporters have high hopes for - suffered a six-week injury and left the training ground in a protective boot.

But, he is now out of the boot and two weeks into his rehab, meaning another four weeks at least before he is back in contention.

Beale confirmed: "The day before the Partick Thistle game when he was in the thinking to start; no one near him, the ball came he turned and had a problem with his ankle.

"It was a six-week injury which he is two weeks into. He is out of the boot at the moment.

"But Alex is probably four weeks from being ready to play."

Glasgow Times:

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