Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Bocanegra Signs with Rangers joins Edu and Bedoya

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ALLY McCOIST has completed a dramatic late swoop to sign USA captain Carlos Bocanegra from Saint Etienne and he could make his Rangers debut tomorrow in Maribor in international clearance comes through on time.

The Light Blues manager has been vociferously chasing the American stopper over the last 48 hours and his hard work has paid off as he has landed his man in time for the game.

Carlos Bocanegra and Alejandro BedoyaWith the Ibrox club struggling for defensive options, McCoist was keen to draft Bocanegra in ahead of the 11pm signing deadline set by UEFA ahead of tomorrow's Europa League tie.

And having done so, it is hoped the former Fulham star who will go into the squad rather than his countryman Alejandro Bedoya, who completed a deal with Gers earlier today.

Midfielder Bedoya needs a visa to play in the UK but with no such requirements applied in Slovenia, he was free to play against Darko Milanic's men.

However, with David Weir, Kyle Bartley, Sasa Papac and Steven Whittaker all out of the match, McCoist has registered Bocanegra as his wild card instead.

Now he will play subject to clearance from the French FA, which will hopefully come through as the player arrives in Maribor tomorrow.

The 32-year-old is the third US international to move into McCoist's pool alongside Bedoya and Maurice Edu.

He started his senior career at Chicago Fire alongside ex-Gers star DaMarcus Beasley in 2000 and stayed there for four years before switching to Craven Cottage.

After the same length of time in London, he then went to French team Rennes before a transfer to Saint Etienne last summer.

Bocanegra has signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee and is McCoist's sixth signing of the summer after Juan Ortiz, Dorin Goian, Lee Wallace, Bartley and Bedoya.

He arrives with a wealth of experience having won 93 caps for his country and scored a total of 12 goals. It is expected he will join Goian in the centre of defence in Slovenia.