Source: FOOTYMAD
Return Of New Faces
After saying goodbye to Kris Boyd and Kevin Thomson, Walter Smith wants to say hello to some new faces. Rangers manager Walter Smith is still looking to for a least three new players for his squad this summer before defending the SPL title. The Ibrox side kicked off their pre-season run-in with a win over Queen of the South. Smith gave a number of young players a run out but it was first team regular Kenny Miller who scored the only goal of the game at Palmerston Park. Smith has assured his homegrown talent they will be given an opportunity this season but admits he is also keen to add some fresh faces, having lost experienced regulars in the shape of Kris Boyd and Kevin Thomson in recent weeks. He said: "We know we need to increase our squad by two or maybe three players before the end of the transfer window and hopefully we can do that. But even allowing for that there will be plenty of opportunity for those young lads to make an impression." Smith was atisfied with the showing down in Dumfries but expects his players to develop a more competitive edge when they travel to Australia for further pre-season action this week. He said: "We had a slow start and I think that's fair enough given the number of weeks we've had off now. It picked up a little towards half time and immediately after half time we were better and got the breakthrough. We changed things around then as we had always planned to do, but it was a good first game for us and one we were pleased to win. It's always good to get started with the games and we've been training intensively for a couple of weeks now so the focus changes a little towards the matches. The First Division teams have competitive cup ties in the next few weeks so they were ahead in terms of fitness and games. But we'll get a competitive edge as we get more games. We have three good ones in Australia and then a few more when we come back before the season starts." Andy Webster - who spent last season on loan at Dundee United - impressed in the heart of defence alongside David Weir. Webster said: "They've had a few games and that adds a competitive edge, but that's what we need at this stage. Pre-season is a six week run in the build up and what you need is a good mix of games and training and this was a decent start. It was a great finish from Kenny but that's what you come to expect from him. It was a good build-up and he did well to finish it off. It was a good team performance and great to see some of the young lads getting a run out in the second half." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba Net
