Rangers winger Neil McCann staked his claim for a place in next week's Scottish Cup final team with the opening goal and an impressive display in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen.

The former Hearts winger opened the scoring shortly before the break when he netted direct from a corner as he offered Ibrox manager Alex McLeish a timely reminder of his abilities before next week's Hampden Park clash with Celtic.

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson returned to the first team after a rib injury to grab the second for the Light Blues nine minutes before time.

Ferguson, Claudio Caniggia, Craig Moore, Ronald de Boer and Shota Arveladze all returned from injury for Rangers to claim starting places but the biggest surprises were the omissions of goalkeeper Stefan Klos and Lorenzo Amoruso from the side.

Young goalkeeper Allan McGregor was given his chance between the sticks but he was rarely troubled by Aberdeen during the opening 45 minutes.

Most of the action centred around the Aberdeen goalmouth and Caniggia should have opened the scoring after nine minutes.

McCann was in impressive form and he squared the ball across the face of goal into the path of the Argentinian but Caniggia just failed to connect a few yards out.

He was looking even more dangerous just seconds later when a point-blank shot forced vigilant Dons defender Kevin McNaughton to make a clearance off the line.

Aberdeen's first real chance came courtesy of Ben Thornley when he was allowed to run into the box and make room for the shot which was well off-target.

But Rangers surged into the lead five minutes before the break when McCann's in-swinging corner curled into the back of the net, despite the presence of Derek Young on the line at the near post.

Rangers were obviously boosted by their opener shortly before the break and could have doubled the advantage a minute after the re-start.

Ferguson played the ball through the middle of the park to De Boer and he turned Russell Anderson before unleashing the shot but the effort was poor and fell weakly past the post.

McCann went on a good run down the left after 52 minutes before trying to pick out de Boer.

But McGuire sent the ball out of play before it reached the Dutchman who was waiting in front of goal.

The Ibrox side could have added to their lead after 59 minutes when McCann tried to drive the ball home from close range only for the shot to cannon off the Dons defence.

The ball fell to Caniggia, who tried to follow up with the rebound, but he too was denied when he bulleted the shot off Darren Young.

But Young caused problems for his own team-mates five minutes later when he tried to nod the ball back to Ryan Esson, under pressure from Arveladze.

But he put too much power behind the header and forced the goalkeeper to knock the ball out of play for a corner.

For the second time in the game, Caniggia just failed to make contact with a McCann cross to squander a great chance to grab Rangers' second goal after 66 minutes.

Both managers opted to make their first changes shortly after. Tore Andre Flo replaced Caniggia and Leon Mike was swapped for Chris Clark.

Only the woodwork prevented Rangers from scoring after 68 minutes.

De Boer played the ball through to Arveladze, who displayed great skill to cut inside McAllister before cracking the ball off the upright.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Flo had the opportunity to make his mark on the game.

De Boer squared the ball to the towering hitman just inside the box and he produced a powerful enough effort but Esson pounced off his line to block.

Aberdeen came close after 79 minutes when Bisconti played a great ball through to Mackie but his shot deflected off Malcolm although McGregor was alert enough to clear the danger.

But Rangers added to the scoreline a minute later.

Flo should have netted with a clear shot at goal only to smash the ball off the upright but Ferguson was on hand to side-foot the ball into the back of the net from seven yards.

Teams

Rangers: McGregor, Ross, Moore, Malcolm, Vidmar, de Boer, Ferguson, Nerlinger, McCann, Caniggia (Flo 67), Arveladze.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Dodds, Kanchelskis, Latapy.

Goals: McCann 41, Ferguson 81.

Aberdeen: Esson, McNaughton, Anderson, McGuire (Whyte 75), McAllister, Derek Young, Bisconti, Darren Young, Thornley (Tiernan 76), Mike (Clark 68), Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Peat, Rutkiewicz.

Booked: Bisconti.

Att: 48,878

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).