Source: Team_Talk
Naismith confident of second cap
Naismith has been handed a surprise recall by George Burley for next Wednesday night's crucial World Cup qualifier in Oslo and is hoping to add to the sole cap he earned against the Faroe Islands in June 2007.
That came while the Rangers striker was still a Kilmarnock player, ahead of what has proven an injury-plagued Ibrox career.
"I wouldn't be going if I didn't feel I had a chance," said the 22-year-old, whose opening has ironically arrived due to injuries to others.
"There's a lot of good players in the squad, very experienced ones as well.
"It'll be great just to go along, get in the set-up and if I can force my way in then that's great."
Naismith dubbed his call-up "a massive bonus", admitting his main focus was holding down a first-team place at Rangers following an encouraging pre-season.
"Over the couple of years I've been here, it's been stop-start, stop-start, so my main aim is just to get as many games as possible for Rangers," said Naismith, who returned in January from an eight-month absence with a knee injury.
Joining Naismith in the squad is Ibrox team-mate Neil Alexander.
And Naismith revealed he broke the news to the goalkeeper, who has now jumped ahead of Allan McGregor in the pecking order for both club and country after the latter was banned from representing Scotland ever again.
Naismith said of Alexander: "I told him about it and, again, he was very excited.
"He came here as a number two but circumstances throughout his career at Rangers gave him a lot of chances and I think he's taken his chances really well, so I think it is deserved for him."
Those sentiments were echoed by Rangers boss Walter Smith, who said: "Anybody that watched us toward the end of last season, he played really well."
On Naismith, Smith added: "We're very pleased that George has taken him. He's started the season very well, he's looking very bright, his level of fitness is fantastic and it's a nice little lift for him to get that."
