Source: Team_Talk
Problems ease for Gers
Smith has seen his squad stretched to the limit by injury and suspension in recent weeks, even failing to fill the bench with a full complement of substitutes against Hamilton recently.[LNB]Saturday's clash with Hearts saw Rangers start with two 18-year-olds - John Fleck and Danny Wilson - while naming four youngsters on the bench, including Andrew Little, whose last-gasp strike rescued a point for the Scottish champions.[LNB]However, Smith has revealed the squad that will make the short trip to Paisley should have a more familiar look, with the return of Kenny Miller, Steven Naismith and Nacho Novo, as well as Pedro Mendes, who was an unused substitute on Saturday.[LNB]"The news is a little bit brighter," said the Rangers boss.[LNB]"If the injuries had been spread over sections of the team, it would be fine.[LNB]"But the injuries were to almost every one of our front and attacking players and that was a problem.[LNB]"That affected us a bit on Saturday and had done in two or three of the previous games as well.[LNB]"The creation of opportunities maybe hasn't been as good as it had been before."[LNB]With those returning from injury likely to be short of match fitness, Smith's problem now is when to introduce them into the action again.[LNB]He added: "That's one of the problems we have, to try to fit them back into the team, and we have to be very careful with that aspect of it.[LNB]"They will all be fit to start but whether we will start them all at the one time is doubtful.[LNB]"We have to be careful not to play too many who have been out for a period of time all at the one time.[LNB]"It will mean a little bit of juggling of selection so they can ease themselves back in. I have to try to achieve a decent balance in that respect."[LNB]However, some key personnel remain unavailable, with Kris Boyd recovering from a hernia operation and Madjid Bougherra still on international duty in the African Nations Cup.[LNB]Asked whether he had been hoping for an early Algeria exit from the tournament, Smith smiled: "It's hard for anyone in football to say they would be pleased to see them getting knocked out.[LNB]"But, in a word, yes![LNB]"It would have meant us having Madjid Bougherra back.[LNB]"But, when you take a player from one of the African Nations, you know that, every couple of years, you are going to be confronted with this problem.[LNB]"On the one hand, you want to see your players doing well but we could also do with having him back with the number of fixtures we've got.[LNB]"However, we wish him well and hope he carries on and gets to the final if need be."[LNB]Smith has been forced to rely heavily on the products of the Murray Park youth system in recent weeks.[LNB]But he was keen to stress his desire to see homegrown talent remain at Rangers is not simply down to the club's financial plight and inability to recruit new players.[LNB]"I don't think it's got anything to do with the financial situation," he said.[LNB]"We have a good set-up at Murray Park and we would hope that any younger player we have coming through would be a benefit to the team.[LNB]"We want them to come through from the youth set-up to the first team.[LNB]"They are young and are gaining experience every time they play and hopefully they will stay with us."[LNB][LNB]
