European exit returns to haunt Smith as TV proves turn-off

WALTER Smith, the Rangers manager, has revealed that watching teams compete in both the Champions League and Uefa Cup in recent days has proved as difficult to stomach as his team's European exit at the hands of FBK Kaunas.

Smith's players have recovered from a catastrophic opening to the season, they went down 2-1 in Lithuania last month and were therefore eliminated from Europe altogether. They have since put an impressive domestic run together in becoming early pace-setters in the Scottish Premier League. The former Everton and Scotland manager took to watching Champions League matches on television in midweek and yesterday conceded it was a painful process.

"I don't think there is any doubt it has hit home, particularly at the start of this week," said Smith. "Once you qualify for the Champions League, you look forward to a number of games. I'll not say this week was more disappointing than the result in Kaunas, but it probably equals it, knowing that European football of any kind is going on. It was a bad week for us in that respect.

"Our performance in Kaunas has come home to roost, especially given the way the team has played in the last four games or so. If we had played at that level, we would have had high hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

"It is no consolation that we have had a full week's training. I don't care if Europe would help us or otherwise, you want to be involved in Europe, preferably at Champions League level. Even if you lose a game there, it is difficult to take but still far more enjoyable being there than not at all."

Smith's comments are timely given that the visitors to Ibrox tomorrow afternoon are Motherwell, Scotland's representatives in the Uefa Cup. Mark McGhee's men lost 1-0 in Nancy on Thursday night with sceptics likely to suggest they will fail to recover sharpness in time for the trip to Govan.

Rangers' manager would be glad of such trouble. "I watched Motherwell, and thought it was a good result for them," he added. "They have a good opportunity to progress. Hopefully they now get themselves a run of games and they would deserve that after how well they did last season.

"Coming back from Europe and playing league matches is still preferable to not having Europe, there is no doubt about that. We had close encounters and fine matches against Motherwell last season, there is no doubt Sunday will be exactly the same."

Sasa Papac's suspension means Christian Dailly is likely to be recalled to the Rangers starting line-up, Kirk Broadfoot tipped to move to left-back. Kevin Thomson is fully fit, although Steven Whittaker's knee problem means he will not feature.

Smith will again be without captain Barry Ferguson but with his skipper returning to training following an ankle injury, the Rangers manager has moved to assure Ferguson he has a place in his plans as soon as he is fit again.

Ferguson, 30, could be back in action in a month as he steps up his rehabilitation. In his absence, what was once a problem area has been transformed by the acquisitions of Pedro Mendes, Steven Davis and Maurice Edu and Smith now has an abundance of options in midfield.

He knows he faces a major selection headache when Ferguson declares himself ready to make his comeback but insists the efforts of his captain last season alone is reason enough to guarantee he will be an automatic pick.

Smith said: "He's the captain of the team and, when he comes back, he will play. It's as simple as that. He had a terrific season for us last season. It will just be a matter of getting up to a match level when he comes back and, when he gets himself to that level again, he will come back into the team.

"The thing that we have this season, that we didn't have last season, is a capability now to take the overall onus off him a little bit.

"There was a great deal of onus placed upon him and it was maybe a little bit unfair. We will be delighted to have him back despite the problems that may give us team selection-wise."

Another player who will soon be knocking on the door is Chris Burke, who is also on the comeback trail after sustaining an ankle injury in the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone in April. The winger has already participated in reserve team matches but Sunday's match is likely to come too soon.

"We only have one reserve game a week and it's about trying to get him the required match fitness," Smith explained.

"By the time he does his training it will be another week, or couple of weeks, until he really gets back to the proper match level. I would hope that, after Sunday's game and training next week, he will be just about ready to be involved with the first team again."

Smith also revealed he hoped to have on-loan Spanish youngster, Aaron, match-fit within a similar time frame.