McCoist: Gers need to invest

Ally McCoist says it is essential he strengthens his squad in the January transfer window despite watching his injury stricken side comprehensively defeat Motherwell 3-0 at Ibrox on Monday. The Gers bounced back from their midweek Old Firm derby defeat disappointment to sweep third-placed Motherwell aside with a rare strike from David Healy, Sone Aluko's first goal for the club and a Stephen Craigan own goal. A hamstring injury suffered by Kyle Lafferty in the match means he joins fellow forwards Nikica Jelavic, Steven Naismith and youngster Kane Hemmings on the sidelines. It leaves Northern Ireland international Healy, who started his first league game of the season against Motherwell, as the only fit striker at the club. Rangers are also having to cope without injured defenders Kirk Broadfoot and Steven Whittaker while midfielder Thomas Bendiksen looks set to leave the club for Norwegian side Trosmo. And McCoist says he will now sit down with club owner Craig Whyte to discuss a list of potential transfer targets as they bid to overcome a two-point lead for Celtic, who defeated Dunfermline 3-0. "Obviously anyone could tell you that it certainly looks like we need strengthening in forward areas. The injuries to Jelavic, Lafferty and Naismith haven't done anything to change my opinion," McCoist said. "We need bodies in, it's as simple as that. I couldn't put my finger on it and say we need three, four or five but we certainly need players in. As happy as we are with the performance against Motherwell we do know we need to add to our squad. "At this moment in time we've got one centre forward in Healy, who did well against Motherwell, but I've got to be honest and say we need to strengthen. I know what we want and I know what we need and I know what we would like to get." Attacking options Rangers have been linked with moves for former strikers Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo. Boyd, who scored 101 league goals in four years at Ibrox, is a free agent after he terminated his contract with Turkish side Eskiehirspor while manager McCoist admitted he was impressed with Sporting Gijon forward Novo when he trained with his old club while in Scotland over the festive period. However, Northern Ireland striker Healy, who has failed to make an impact at Ibrox after signing last January, said he hoped to make the most of the injury crisis to kick-start his Rangers career. "It's one goal and I'm not going to get carried away but for me it was nice," Healy said of his goal against Motherwell. "It's been a long time since I started a game so hopefully my performance and my goal will help me get more minutes on the pitch. Any professional will tell you that when you train all week you want to be involved and part of it. When you are not playing it is disappointing but the manager has always said it's a squad game. "We've got a good bunch of lads but there were a few lads missing against Motherwell and hopefully the boys who have played have done enough to let the manager know we can come in and do a job. Jelavic is obviously injured and Lafferty went down in the game so there are not too many forward players at the minute. "I'm sure in the January window we will be linked with a few strikers so it's up to me when I get a chance to do what I did against Motherwell and score goals and win games."