sport

SMITH EXPECTS BOUGHERRA APPEARANCE

Madjid Bougherra - yet to return to Rangers.

Rangers manager Walter Smith expects Madjid Bougherra to report back for training at Murray Park on Sunday and to be available for selection for Tuesday's Champions League game.

But the defender is not guaranteed to be drafted back into the team for the visit of Stuttgart, with Smith saying he would have no problem keeping Danny Wilson in the side instead.

Bougherra was once again late returning from international duty after helping Algeria qualify for next summer's World Cup finals.

He previously missed a Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League game at St Johnstone in October after claiming his return to Glasgow had been delayed when his possessions, including his passport, were stolen.

Bougherra has not played for the Scottish champions since September, during which time 17-year-old Wilson has made his breakthrough to the first team and earned plenty of plaudits for his performances so far.

Speaking after the 3-0 win over Kilmarnock, Smith said: "Madjid will be in training tomorrow and I would imagine he would be available for us [for Tuesday] but we will have to see how he is after his midweek game.

"I haven't seen him yet. He's not spoken to anyone but I take it he is okay. Normally if they are injured, they let us know. He hasn't done so so I take it he is all right."

Wilson was particularly impressive on his Champions League debut when Rangers earned a 1-1 draw with Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest earlier this month.

Smith added: "He has been playing really well and for a young lad to come and play the four games that he has, in the manner he has, there is no problem there. It's not a problem.

"I'm the one who is charged with looking after his career at the present moment so we will see. He has handled one Champions League game extremely well and I don't see any great reason why he shouldn't be able to handle another one."

Goals from Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Steven Whittaker within the opening 35 minutes had provided a comfortable lead heading into the break, which Rangers held on to as they moved top of the SPL.

With the must-win game against Stuttgart looming, Smith admits Rangers had one eye on that match when they took their foot off the pedal in the second half against Kilmarnock.

Smith said: "I think that's a natural thing, especially after scoring three goals and creating a number of opportunities in the first half.

"There was always likely to be a little bit of a drop in level in the second half and there certainly was that today."

He added: "We have built up a bit of momentum now and hopefully we can keep that going."

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies said: "We started the game really well but you have to defend well and, after 10 minutes, we went to pieces and the defence was shocking.

"Young Ryan O'Leary had a torrid time in the first half and I thought about taking him off. But, credit to him, after taking a bit of a roasting at half-time, he stuck to his task better than he did in the first half.

"I don't think we have had as much possession at Ibrox, or worked the goalkeeper as much, but we can't defend the defence in the first half. We could have lost one or two more."

Jefferies also revealed striker Kevin Kyle is a doubt for next week's game against Hearts after being caught in the face by Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor's boot.