Source: Team_Talk
McCulloch hopes to avoid Euro backlash
ee McCulloch hopes Rangers' Champions League heroics will not backfire on them when they return to SPL action against Hearts on Saturday.[LNB] The Scottish champions earned a 1-0 win over Bursaspor at Ibrox on Wednesday night - just a few days after fighting back from behind to win at Aberdeen.[LNB]They now face another tough away match in the SPL on Saturday and McCulloch admits the fixture schedule is getting tougher for the league leaders.[LNB]He said: "We had the game on Sunday and then the Champions League game and I think everyone was getting a bit leggy in the last 20 minutes or so.[LNB]"Bursaspor had an extra day and a half recovery compared to us after having their game on Friday night.[LNB]"We've got a game on Saturday to look to now. It does get a little bit tough but we're going to have to deal with it.[LNB]"It's a massive game on Saturday, Hearts away is always a tough place to go but we'll be looking to get a win there."[LNB]The win over Bursaspor was Rangers' first in seven European matches at Ibrox.[LNB]Next up is the visit of Valencia in Glasgow later this month and McCulloch was asked if it was a good time for another home game.[LNB]"I'll tell you after the game!" he said.[LNB]"I hope so, the system is working really well. As long as we play the way we did in this game, we will be there or thereabouts."[LNB]Steven Naismith grabbed the only goal of the game against the Turks and McCulloch believes he is finally back to his best after enduring his share of injury problems earlier in his Rangers career.[LNB]The midfielder said: "The strikers, like Kenny Miller, tend to get the headlines when they get the goals but Naisy has been fantastic this season.[LNB]"He has had a lot of injuries and maybe a wee bit of a loss in confidence when not at full fitness.[LNB]"In the CIS Cup last season when he set up Kenny's goal, I thought he was starting to look like the player he is and was getting the confidence back.[LNB]"Since then, he has kicked on and he has been brilliant this season."[LNB]Hearts manager Jim Jefferies handed Naismith his senior debut at Kilmarnock and he believes the 24-year-old is coming of age.[LNB]"Steven was excellent the other night," Jefferies said. "That was as good as I have seen him play.[LNB]"It's a daunting task to go to a club like Rangers when you're a young boy. Then he got the injury, which held him back.[LNB]"He's now playing with a lot of confidence. Walter has shown great faith in him and he's full of running and got his sharpness.[LNB]"He's a handful, I spotted it at an early age. I said to him at 16 he would be in the first team soon enough. He was a determined boy with a great attitude."
