Source: Team_Talk
Smith keen to boost Rangers squad
Rangers manager Walter Smith will step up his search for new players after admitting he must add to his squad before the transfer window shuts.[LNB] The Scottish champions kicked off the defence of their title with a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock but Smith was forced to contend with a depleted squad ahead of the clash at Ibrox, with Lee McCulloch suspended, Steven Davis out with a virus and Andy Webster and John Fleck both injured.[LNB]So far, Smith has only been able to recruit James Beattie, who was thrown straight into the Scottish Premier League clash just 24 hours after his move from Stoke.[LNB]Smith said: "I think it's obvious to everybody that we need to add players and we have been trying, for the last month now we have been trying to bring in as good a level of player as we can get.[LNB]"We have been thwarted on many occasions but we will continue to try. We'll have to add a few before the end of the transfer window.[LNB]"We have a free week this week with no European football and we hope we can add to the group that we have. We've still got money to spend on players."[LNB]He added: "It's mainly up front. With Steven Davis, Lee McCulloch and Maurice Edu for the middle, we think that's three for two positions but we saw today, when Steve got the virus while on international duty, we were left a little bit short.[LNB]"We managed to cover for it today and, hopefully once we settle down, we will have more cover in the majority of the areas on the pitch."[LNB]Beattie - the club's first purchase in two years - enjoyed a reasonable debut although a lack of match-sharpness was clearly a problem for the 32-year-old striker.[LNB]Smith said: "In normal circumstances he wouldn't have been asked to play today.[LNB]"He's only had two half-games for Stoke reserves, while the majority of our boys have had five or six matches so he's well down in terms of pre-season preparation.[LNB]"It will take a few weeks before he catches up but we were pleased with his initial showing today and I thought he did very well considering there has been upset in his training routine this week.[LNB]"It was only through a lack of numbers really that we had to force him to play today."[LNB]Goals from Kenny Miller and Steven Naismith sealed the win, with Jamie Hamill pulling a goal back from the penalty spot for Killie, and Beattie was disappointed not to add his own name to the scoresheet.[LNB]"You always want to score on your debut and I had two decent chances," he said.[LNB]"The fans gave me a great recion and, for that, I'm very thankful. Hopefully I can repay the fans with some goals over the season and repay them for the reception they gave me today."[LNB]Kilmarnock may have got off to a losing start but boss Mixu Paatelainen had no real complaints about the efforts of his players.[LNB]He said: "I felt at times we passed the ball well and caused them problems. There were quite long periods when we were on top which was unbelievable and fantastic.[LNB]"The players deserve so much credit. We have only been together for six or seven weeks but we have been training hard and the boys are starting to know their roles.[LNB]"We were a little blunt up front and need to improve that part of the game but overall I was quite pleased."
