It's full-team ahead for Rangers

[johnnyk 158]

WALTER SMITH today revealed he will have a healthy choice of fit Rangers stars as they prepare to surge for a domestic double.

 

The Ibrox gaffer has been deprived of several key personnel for weeks - but is about to get most of them back for the run-in.

 

DaMarcus Beasley, Kirk Broadfoot, Kyle Lafferty and Lee McCulloch could all be available for the SPL showdown with Hearts at Ibrox on May 3.

 

And Smith, whose team take on St Mirren in the semi-final of the Homecoming Scottish Cup at Hampden tomorrow, has also revealed he is grateful for some SPL respite.

 

He said: "I think it is good to have a cup game at this time. If anything, the two-week break from league action will help us to get quite a few of our players back.

 

"If we are looking at Kirk, Lee, Kyle and DaMarcus, we could have them all back in a couple of weeks.

 

"It has not been a bad thing at all having a break for the semi-final. It gives us that little bit of respite."

 

But Barry Ferguson is facing a huge battle to be fit to play again this season. The deposed skipper injured his calf in a reserve game during the week after three weeks sidelined due to disciplinary action.

 

He hopes to be back by the middle of May, but Smith revealed: "Unfortunately, with the injury he picked up, he will be out for the majority of the rest of the season."

 

Smith will soon have big selection headaches as the fringe players who have been drafted in as cover in recent weeks have performed well.

 

He said: "Boys like Andrius Velicka, Mo Edu and Steven Smith have come in and have now got some games under their belt. You can see in every game that they are improving and getting there.

 

"Their overall match fitness has improved and that has added to the options."

 

But Smith reckons he needs that competition for places in his team, who currently sit just one point behind Celtic with five games left to play.

 

He added: "There has been a couple of stages this season when it looked as if the title was a little bit beyond us.

 

"We then found ourselves in front and Celtic pegged us back.

 

"Going into the last five games, especially the one against Celtic at home, we consider ourselves to be in a decent position if we can produce the required consistency."

 

Meanwhile, Rangers have insisted talks are ongoing with Kirk Broadfoot over an extension to his contract that ends in 12 months time.

 

Publication date 24/04/09

 

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