Fitness boost for McCulloch

22 March 2011 18:00

Rangers have been handed a boost with the news Lee McCulloch is on course to return to action for the title run-in.

The midfielder has been sidelined since the start of February amid fears his campaign was over after it emerged he had been playing through the pain barrier for months with a cyst on his knee. However, the 32-year-old is ahead of schedule following surgery and manager Walter Smith revealed he could be back for the final month of the season.

That means McCulloch could make his comeback in time to feature in the final Old Firm derby at Ibrox - a match which could prove decisive in the destination of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League crown. Smith told www.rangers.co.uk: "Lee is a bit behind the other lads who are coming back but I would hope we would maybe get him back for the last month of the season."

He added: "As long as everything goes the way it is going at the present moment, that should be a realistic timescale.

"The specialist's reports on him are very good and it would be a big thing for us to get him back."

There was further good news for the Scottish champions, with Smith expecting to welcome back Kirk Broadfoot from injury for the next home game against Dundee United on April 2.

Broadfoot has been out of action since November with a foot problem but is set to make his long-awaited return, while youngster Jamie Ness could also be fit enough to face United.

Smith said: "Kirk will be fit for the Dundee United game but with the length of time he has been out, getting him games is going to be the difficult thing for us.

"We're going to have to try to get him a number of matches so that he can get up and running but he's a fit lad and takes pride in his fitness.

"I don't think it should take too long before we see him back again and Jamie will be close to being fit again too by the time we start playing again. We're going to need all three of them back because we've got 11 games to play now and it's going to be a big ask of everyone in our group to do well."

Source: PA