LA Galaxy boss Bruce Arena has urged Rangers to stick with Maurice Edu. "Maurice is a player who can step up to that kind of pressure and do well," said Arena, who led the U.S.A to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup.

"It's always a difficult time when you are a scrambling in a title race. Rangers are chasing Celtic and it can feel like an awkward time to introduce young players to the starting line-up.

"But there is no better way to really see the kind of potential a player has. If Walter feels comfortable that he can place Maurice on the field, then, within no more than a couple of games, Maurice will show the qualities that he has. I'm sure he is a player who can help Rangers in their current situation.

"Rangers have paid good money for him and that is another reason why he probably needs to play more. The club has made an investment, so the quicker they can bring him on, the better it is for everyone.

"But Walter is a very experienced manager and my view is that he will make a good decision in this situation. He has seen a lot of young, promising players come and go and I'm sure he will understand when it is the right time to introduce Maurice to the Rangers first team on a permanent basis.

"Right now, Maurice lacks experience, but he has the tools to become a very good player indeed. There is a great deal of promise there.

"It was always going to take him time to adapt to the different demands of professional football in Scotland but he has the right kind of self-confidence and I'm sure he has faith in himself making the breakthrough."