Bougherra was left out of the 3-0 friendly defeat by Bochum on Saturday and will fly back to Glasgow tomorrow.

Kyle Lafferty has already returned home to see a specialist about the groin problem that will force him to miss the Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener against Hearts on July 23.

But McCoist, whose team face Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, expects Algeria defender Bougherra to make the encounter.

McCoist told the club's official website: "It's just a little niggle Madjid has more than anything and he has still been able to do the extra work we've asked him to do with physio Stevie Walker."

McCoist added: "He has been running but he just feels it is a little bit tight so we'll get him home, have the problem scanned and see what happens. It's not a massive issue.

"The scan is just for confirmation more than anything else that it's not a serious injury but in the meantime, we're not taking any chances.

"We don't want Madjid to miss the Hearts game and that is why we've not been asking him to push himself too much.

"Everything he has done with us up until now has been well within his capabilities as we don't want to enflame the problem."

Bougherra's future remains the subject of speculation, with the player thought to be keen on a summer exit.

But McCoist has admitted he would rather see the 28-year-old leave for nothing next summer than sell him now.