Rangers defender David Weir insists Daniel Cousin is welcome in the Ibrox dressing room even if some supporters have turned on him.

The Gabon striker was jeered by a section of the home crowd in Wednesday's 0-0 UEFA Cup draw with Panathinaikos.

He was poised to join Fulham for £3million last month but that move is on hold while FIFA determine whether the deal should be allowed to proceed as he is not allowed to play for three clubs in the same season, although Rangers and Fulham have asked FIFA to let the deal go through.

Cousin, who joined Rangers from Lens in August, has not hidden his desire to play in the Barclays Premier League.

Weir said: "The players understand the situation. As long as Daniel comes on and does as well as he can then we are happy with that.

"There is no problem with the players - the players are quite happy for Daniel to be here.

"We don't want anybody to get that kind of treatment but the fans are entitled to voice their opinion, that's what they are here for, they are here to give their opinions."

Rangers will look to pick themselves up from the midweek disappointment when they take on Kilmarnock in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Sunday.

Depending on the result on Saturday between Celtic and Hearts, Rangers could have their lead cut to a single point ahead of the Rugby Park clash or be looking to stretch their advantage at the top of the table to seven points.

Killie manager Jim Jefferies hopes his players have taken something from their 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Celtic earlier this month as they prepare to take on the other half of the Old Firm.

Jefferies knows if they allow Rangers the same time and space as they afforded Celtic, another heavy defeat could be on the cards.

He said: "We need to learn our lesson because if you sit off them and let good players play, you'll get beaten.

"Hopefully they'll have learned. If we get in about Rangers, we're well capable of causing an upset.

"If they give me the same battling, application and commitment as they did last week, allied to a little more quality, then we're capable of taking our chances and scoring goals.

"It's difficult because we've lost a lot of our good goalscorers in the last 12 months."

Kilmarnock could face two Rugby Park old boys on Sunday if Rangers manager Walter Smith selects Steven Naismith and Kris Boyd.

Jefferies added: "Walter has options and he's lucky to have them because I don't.

"If they play then the good thing is we've trained enough with them to know what they're like.

"If they don't play them, they've got plenty that can cause you problems and that's why they're top of the league."

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