GARY McAllister has called on the Rangers players to show more “hunger and desire” up front in their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Livingston at Ibrox tomorrow night.

The Scottish champions’ chances of booking a semi-final spot at Hampden have been boosted by the return to full fitness of playmaker Ianis Hagi and right back Nathan Patterson.

But assistant manager McAllister wants to see Steven Gerrard’s men produce an improved performance in the final third against opponents who beat Celtic 1-0 at Almondvale on Sunday.

James Tavernier and his team mates dominated their cinch Premiership match against Motherwell in Govan at the weekend – but ended up drawing 1-1 and dropping two points.

The former Scotland midfielder believes a stark improvement is required going forward if Rangers, who last won a major cup competition back in 2011, are to progress to the last four. 

“We bossed most of the Motherwell game and had more possession,” he said. “Trying to pick some positives from the game, I thought first half we played some really exciting football that was good on the eye.

“But I’d mirror some of the words from the manager after the game. I think we need to have a wee bit more devilment in our finishing and a wee bit more oomph and a wee bit more belief.

“Leading up to getting into the box, I believe we’re playing some decent stuff. But there just needs to be that bit more hunger and desire to score.”

Gerrard has failed to win a cup competition during his three seasons as Rangers manager and was unable to prevent the Ibrox club from losing to St Mirren away in the League Cup quarter-final last year.

McAllister admitted the meeting with Livingston was of massive importance to the Glasgow giants.  

“I’ve really got to emphasise the point that this is a really big game for us against Livi, with the incentive of getting to Hampden and obviously getting back there for a cup final,” he said.

“It’s an early end to a cup competition with a December final. It’s such a big game for us and we’ve been really diligent in our preparations for this one.

“People have this observation that it might be the least of your priorities, but it’s not the case. We want to continue the way this club has with winning things down the years.

“It would be nice (to win it), but first and foremost we’ve got to win this and get to Hampden for the semi.”

Asked about the Rangers’ injury situation, McAllister said: “Ianis is fine and he trained. He looked pretty sharp. Ryan Kent is still obviously going to be missing.

“The positive would be that Nathan, who has been nursing that little ankle knock since being away with the national team, has trained and looked sharp this morning.

“He will come into contention with a few others. Jacko (Ryan Jack) is still missing from the training. He’s still working to get back to fitness.”