Source: Team_Talk
Smith: Webster has a part to play
Webster last week won his 23rd Scotland cap - following a four-year international exile - after shaking off a series of injury problems to return to form during his season-long stint at Tannadice.[LNB]The 27-year-old made just 11 first-team appearances in the three seasons which followed his pioneering move from Hearts to Wigan in 2006, when he used new FIFA rules to leave Tynecastle a year before his contract expired.[LNB]Only one of those displays came after moving on to Rangers, but he has now made 23 appearances for United.[LNB]Although Webster's loan agreement will deprive him of the chance to add to that tally when the Tayside club visit Ibrox in the Active Nation Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, Smith has seen enough to know he can help Rangers next term.[LNB]And with David Weir turning 40 in May, there may be a vacancy in central defence.[LNB]"I have been impressed by Andy," Smith told Rangers News. "He has been captain at Dundee United and, as someone who is on loan, that's a real accolade for him.[LNB]"It's a reflection of how the people up there view him and the reason I let him go elsewhere was because he was going through a terrible injury period here.[LNB]"He wasn't settling down but I'm hoping the confidence he gets from going out on loan and playing can kick-start his career when he comes back to us next season."[LNB]Smith, who is working without a contract as the club push on with takeover talks with a consortium headed by London-based estate agent Andrew Ellis, added: "I'm not sure of what future any of us will have here but I think putting him out to United has worked well for him.[LNB]"He had a hard period here where, due to contractual situations and his transfer from Hearts to Wigan, he stalled a bit.[LNB]"He had a terrific start to his career but it hit the skids when that happened to him and he was unfortunate when he came here and played just once in two-and-a-half years.[LNB]"If my memory serves me correctly, he scored in that one against Gretna but injuries limited him a lot. I think he's over that now.[LNB]"I certainly hope he is and I like to think he can come back with the confidence he had three or four years ago."[LNB][LNB]
