Rangers boss Walter Smith expects Madjid Bougherra to be available for next week's clash with Stuttgart.
Defender yet to return from international duty
Rangers boss Walter Smith expects Madjid Bougherra to be available for next week's clash with Stuttgart.
Bougherra missed Saturday's win over Kilmarnock after once again returning late from international duty after helping Algeria qualify for next summer's World Cup finals.
The former Charlton defender is expected to be back in training on Sunday, but Bougherra is not guaranteed to be drafted back into the team for the visit of Stuttgart, with Smith saying he would have no problem keeping Danny Wilson in the side instead.
Bougherra has not played for the Scottish champions since September, during which time 17-year-old Wilson has made his breakthrough to the first team and earned plenty of plaudits for his performances so far.
"Madjid will be in training tomorrow and I would imagine he would be available for us [for Tuesday] but we will have to see how he is after his midweek game," said Smith.
No contact
"I haven't seen him yet. He's not spoken to anyone but I take it he is okay. Normally if they are injured, they let us know. He hasn't done so, so I take it he is all right."
Wilson was particularly impressive on his Champions League debut when Rangers earned a 1-1 draw with Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest earlier this month.
Smith added: "He has been playing really well and for a young lad to come and play the four games that he has, in the manner he has, there is no problem there. It's not a problem.
"I'm the one who is charged with looking after his career at the present moment so we will see. He has handled one Champions League game extremely well and I don't see any great reason why he shouldn't be able to handle another one."
