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MARVIN ANDREWS still believes he can save his season and avoid the need for cruciate ligament surgery.


A month has passed since the big Trinidadian sustained the knee injury at Dundee and he continues to defy doctors' orders by refusing an operation.

The defender, a devout Christian and faith healer, is still putting his trust in a greater power helping him to recover.

He has been receiving intensive treatment at Murray Park and has not been training with the rest of the squad.

He is believed to be doing a programme of special exercices to strengthen the quad muscles in his legs, which in turn can relieve strain being put on his knee.

It has also been suggested the 29-year-old is wearing a special knee brace as he attempts to feature in the title run-in.

But the big stopper was today again warned by boss Alex McLeish that he must prove his fitness to have any chance of playing again this season.

McLeish revealed: "There is no change. He is on the treatment table getting the stiffness out of his leg that he felt last week.

"I have told him, quite plainly, that if he shows me out on the training field that he is 100% then I will consider him. But he hasn't shown me that yet. That is why you have not seen him on the field as yet."

Rangers hoped this warning and his exclusion from the team might help Andrews reflect on his decision, and help him change his mind.

But McLeish confirmed: "He is still of the mind that he won't have an operation.

"But as I have said, it's any person's prerogative to change their mind on that. If he does change his mind we'll just have to wait and see."

Andrews new international manager, Leo Beenhakker, is also due to meet McLeish and the player over his controversial injury situation.

The Dutchman has just been named as Trinidad and Tobago boss and doesn't take up his position until May, but will come to the UK to meet players and coaches as he bids to cement relations.

The situation with his skipper Andrews will be top of the agenda, and Beenhakker said: "I will spend this month meeting the club manager and the players. Obviously everything will be discussed."