Smith rejects discipline issue

Smith: No discipline worries

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Rangers manager Walter Smith insists there is no problem with discipline at the club after recent incidents involving Nacho Novo and Madjid Bougherra.

Novo has found himself at the centre of a police investigation over an incident following last Saturday's league game against Aberdeen and could also be charged with improper conduct by the Scottish Football Association.

The 30-year-old Spaniard was photographed with his shorts lowered beneath his buttocks, but more seriously he allegedly made a finger gesture as he walked off at Pittodrie.

But Smith, speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Falkirk, was not overly concerned by the incident.

"Nacho knows that one aspect of his reaction was wrong," he said. "They all know that and they have always shown a great deal of care.

"A lot of time they do take a fair level of abuse and sometimes if the team is not doing well, even though you're a substitute, you still feel that.

"I don't think there is any great problem with our discipline overall."

Algerian defender Bougherra returned late from international duty with the North African side for a third time this season after they qualified for next year's World Cup, and he had to settle for a place on the bench once again against Aberdeen.

But Smith also claimed there were no lingering issues with the centre-half and insisted that he could force his way back into the side.

"He will come back and play for us," he added. "I don't think there is any problem.

"At different times we have one or two problems with players that we have to handle but I've never said he wouldn't come back and play for us - he will come back and play for us.

"He's been doing well for us when he has been called upon to play. The World Cup situation has probably been something he has paid a bit more attention to than he should have, forgetting his club situation.

"I don't see any reason why he shouldn't come back in and play for us."