Source: Team_Talk
Papac keen on Cuellar return
Sasa Papac admits he would love to be reunited with Carlos Cuellar in the Rangers defence, but insists the current back four will improve.[LNB] The Gers suffered a 3-0 friendly defeat by Bochum on Saturday.[LNB]With Madjid Bougherra left out as a precaution over a tight hamstring, Rangers lined up with the out-of-contract David Weir and Kirk Broadfoot, who has not played a competitive game since November, in central defence.[LNB]But they conceded three second half goals against Bochum to make it two defeats out of two on their German tour.[LNB]Rangers have been trying for several weeks to secure a deal that would bring back Cuellar from Aston Villa, where the Spanish defender left for in 2008 following a successful solitary season at Ibrox, helping the club reach the UEFA Cup final.[LNB]Manager Ally McCoist has admitted the trail has gone slightly cold but his left-back shares his enthusiasm in bringing back the former Osasuna player.[LNB]Papac told the club's official website: "I know that the manager is interested in bringing Carlos Cuellar back to the club and that would be great.[LNB]"He is a very good player. We know how he can play after his great season with us before."[LNB]Rangers, who face Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, could have done with Cuellar in Bochum but Papac believes they will soon iron out the errors that led to their late collapse.[LNB]Papac said: "We have only been in pre-season training for two weeks and I think there were some heavy legs in the second half against Bochum.[LNB]"We will become stronger in the next two weeks because we need to be ready for the start of the season.[LNB]"I think we can be ready but I feel we need some more players because we don't have a very big squad."[LNB]Steven Naismith also refused to panic but he admitted they cannot afford to concede goals like they did against the German second tier club.[LNB]"Obviously the game was a friendly and nothing is won or lost at this stage of the season," the Scotland player said.[LNB]"More than anything it's about building up fitness and getting match practice, albeit against teams that might be further ahead in doing that than you.[LNB]"All the same, we were disappointed with the standard of goals we lost. It was terrible and we need to be doing better than that.[LNB]"It's up to us to cut that out before the start of the season and I'm sure we will.[LNB]"There weren't many positives to take from the game and we need to sharpen up, but we'll do that."
