Source: Team_Talk
Smith welcomes Lafferty return
Lafferty has just finished serving a three-match ban for pretending he had been headbutted by Dons defender Charlie Mulgrew in April's SPL clash at Ibrox.
Manager Smith is relieved to have the 22-year-old back for what will be a spell of seven matches in 23 days after the international break.
"I think he knows himself the error of his ways in terms of what he did and hopefully that won't happen again," said Smith, who fined Lafferty for his behaviour at the time.
"He missed enough games last season with injuries and the last thing he wants is to miss matches.
"He has been keeping himself fit and played in a couple of bounce games but I'm sure it has been frustrating for him that he has not been involved in our matches yet.
"He will play a couple of matches for Northern Ireland in the next week and then he will be available for us.
"We are looking forward to getting him back because we are moving
into a phase where we will have midweek matches as well as weekend games, so it's important we have everyone available and
ready to play."
Meanwhile, Allan McGregor has revealed he had mixed feelings about reclaiming the goalkeeping jersey at Ibrox.
McGregor displaced close friend Neil Alexander, who manager Smith admitted he had been "unfair" in dropping.
It is the second time Alexander has found himself relegated to the bench after performing well in McGregor's absence.
"It was great the manager picked me to start the season," McGregor told Rangers News.
"I didn't find out until the last minute as we prepared for Falkirk in the opening game.
"The situation was made more awkward because Neil and I are pals.
"I feel sorry for him that he has been left out but at the same time I'm happy the gaffer has chosen me."
McGregor knows he cannot afford the kind of mistake he made at Hearts recently if he wants to hold onto his place in the team.
The keeper allowed a weak David Witteveen shot to squirm underneath his body at Tynecastle a week and a half ago.
He made amends with a superb save from Jose Goncalves to prevent the home side taking a two-goal lead in a game Rangers came back to win 2-1.
McGregor said: "The first goal at Tynecastle was horrific. I still don't know what that was about.
"However, I made a good save in the second half that was important, so I was pleased with that and that we grabbed the win in the end.
"If we win 2-1 every week, I'll throw one in every week - although I can't imagine I would be playing for much longer if that was the case!"
McGregor is also pleased with the draw Rangers have been handed in the Champions League, where they will face Sevilla, Stuttgart and Unirea Urziceni.
He said: "The draw could have been a lot worse.
"I think Sevilla will be the top seeds.
"We played Stuttgart two years ago and although their squad and our squad have changed a bit, we know we can beat them."
