JIM Duffy will attempt to convince Rangers boss Ally McCoist to allow Robbie Crawford to play in tomorrow’s Petrofac Training Cup quarter-final against Alloa Athletic, the Tele can reveal.

Gourock midfielder Crawford joined Morton on a four-month loan from the Ibrox outfit on Monday evening.

The terms of the loan includes a provision that the 21-year-old would not be available to play in the Petrofac Cup in order to prevent him from being cup-tied upon his return to Rangers in January.

Ton gaffer Duffy says he can understand Rangers’ thinking but remains hopeful that McCoist will change his mind and consent to Crawford playing against the Wasps.

He told the Tele: “At this moment in time, we haven’t got permission from Rangers to play Robbie against Alloa.

“When we signed him, Rangers’ conditions were that they didn’t want him playing in the Petrofac Cup.

“If Rangers get there, the final is next April. Robbie’s loan runs until January and, technically speaking, he could potentially be back in their squad but unavailable for that.

“They might need him come next year, which I can understand. If the boy does well on loan with us and goes back to Rangers, they might think: ‘Well, we want him in the team’.

“And at the end of the day, he is a Rangers player and we agreed to take him under those conditions. We’re not moaning about it and don’t have an issue with it.

“But I’ll have a chat with Ally [McCoist] about it. We’ll wait and see, but at this moment in time — as I speak — he’s not available for tomorrow.”