Smith - No more strikers

Smith: Doesn't need striker

SKY SPORTS ON SKY
There's more live football on Sky Sports than ever before, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, England away Euro 2012 qualifiers and La Liga. With four live Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Sports News, you'll never miss a moment on Sky. Click here for more.

Related links

Teams

• Rangers

Also see

• Rangers fixtures
• SPL table
• Rangers stats

Rangers manager Walter Smith has revealed he is not looking to sign another striker, despite losing Nikica Jelavic to European competition.

New signing Jelavic, who moved to the Glasgow giants from Rapid Vienna after securing a work permit on Friday, is ineligible to play in the UEFA Champions League because Rapid qualified for the Europa League group stage.

The Austrian outfit booked their place in European competition after a 3-2 win at Aston Villa, and having played for them in an earlier round, Jelavic will now miss out on the Champions League.

It is a blow for boss Smith, whose squad must cope with clashes against Manchester United, Valencia and Bursaspor, but the Gers boss is not looking to add another frontman to his ranks.

"It is a bit of a blow for us, I must say," Smith said. "Not just in terms of losing someone that we hope will do well for us in terms of goals and all-round play, but losing another jersey.

"We only have 18 lads who have played regularly in the first team, so to lose him is a blow - and Andy Webster's ongoing injury situation as well.

"That cuts our squad down. We've got a decent squad but if we fall foul of injury, it may be a bit of a struggle for us."

He added: "I don't need someone in that position, we have plenty of cover for the forward position.

"If we have to move someone up front, then we will obviously weaken another area in terms of numbers. That could be a big problem for us."

Smith did not rule out trying to sign players in other positions, admitting he may be forced to dabble in the market because of the extra games that European competition will provide.

"We certainly don't have a lot of money but we may have something to bring in one or two," he remarked. "I'm actually not quite sure about the financial situation at the minute.

"If you look at Scottish teams going out (of Europe), that's six extra games to play in the first half of the season to any of our opposition.

"That's a lot of games and a lot of midweeks that other teams don't have to play.

"I would much prefer to have it than not have it, it's not a complaint, but it will stretch us to our limit."