Boughie Back Against Buddies

[ian1964 10,431]

WALTER SMITH will wait until the weekend before drafting Madjid Bougherra back into his Rangers side.

 

The Algerian defender, linked with a move to Sunderland over the weekend, has been given time off by the Light Blues manager after his Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

 

Madjid BougherraAt this stage, Smith does not expect any transfer activity involving Gers today - and that means Bougherra appears poised to remain in Glasgow for the rest of the season.

 

But having not trained with his Ibrox team-mates for a month because he has been in Angola, the manager is not going to rush him straight into the first XI.

 

Instead, the former Charlton man is scheduled to return to Murray Park for training on Thursday morning with a view to appearing in Saturday's Scottish Cup tie at St Mirren.

 

That means teenager Danny Wilson should continue in the side when Rangers meet St Johnstone in the last four of the League Cup on Wednesday night at Hampden Park.

 

Smith said: "Madjid won't play this midweek. It's always asking a bit much of any player who has been away for the length of time he has been to come straight back in.

 

"He has been over in Angola playing in the tournament there so he'll return here for training later in the week then be available for the weekend."

 

Kenny Miller, meanwhile, has been given an outside chance of featuring at the national stadium - and Smith has stressed there's no long-term concern over his hamstring injury.

 

The Scotland striker has been plagued by what has seemed to be the same problem for a number of months.

 

But the Gers boss insists that's not the case and is adamant the issue is only flaring up now because of the intense match schedule his team is involved in.

 

Kenny MillerSmith added: "There's a slight chance we could have Kenny back for the St Johnstone match.

 

"We brought him back last Wednesday at St Mirren in the league and it wasn't the right time for him so we'll make sure he is okay before he plays again.

 

"The situation is getting better every day. It might be that our next game comes too early for him but we will wait and see.

 

"It's not the same problem that keeps coming back for Kenny and it's actually a bit different from the one he had before.

 

"The run of games we've had every Wednesday and Saturday hasn't helped him, especially as he's an explosive sort of player.

 

"His hamstring is tightening up just now because of a hip problem he has but once we get back to having one game a week it should settle down."

 

http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20100201/boughie-back-against-buddies_2254024_1951574

[Super_Ally 0]

What chance of Boogie actually being back when we expect him? I.e. The St Mirren game and therefore back for the SPL fixtures.

[Gazza_8 233]

The Algerian defender, linked with a move to Sunderland over the weekend, has been given time off by the Light Blues manager after his Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

 

WS probably had no choice as Boogie is probably sunning himself in Algeria with his family and text WS to tell him that.