McInnes defends Fernandez before League Cup semi

Rangers head to Hampden on Saturday - where Aberdeen await in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup - and McInnes is hoping to get the better of his old club.

Rangers have won three trophies since 2012 and have finished the last two seasons without any silverware.

McInnes, who took charge in June, is the latest manager charged with turning around that poor return and has the chance to make his mark, having defeated Celtic 3-0 in the quarter-finals at Ibrox.

"To get the first trophy would be so important, reinforcing confidence, reinforcing belief," the Rangers boss said.

"Traditionally, semi-finals can be fraught with a lot of nerves and tension and sometimes they're not the best games, because of what's at stake."