No new worries for Smith - 7M sport

No new worries for Smith

Posted Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by PA

Rangers manager Walter Smith has no fresh injury worries ahead of their Champions League clash with Stuttgart.

Kevin Thomson could be in the frame for the tournament opener despite a lack of game-time, with Smith admitting he has yet to decide on his starting line-up.

The midfielder was sent off just 14 minutes into his comeback match against Hearts - his first competitive outing since November - and did not feature in the goalless draw at Motherwell on Saturday after serving his suspension.

Smith will also decide whether Jerome Rothen should retain his place in the team after the on-loan Paris St Germain winger made his debut at the weekend.

Long-term casualties Maurice Edu and Kirk Broadfoot remain on the sidelines.

Smith has challenged his Rangers players to prove they are an even better side than the one who gave Stuttgart a run for their money in the same competition two years ago.

The two teams are set to clash again in this year's group stage opener at the Mercedes Benz Arena, with the Scottish champions keen to buck the trend following a disappointing European showing from their fellow SPL sides this season.

Rangers clinched a 2-1 win over the Bundesliga outfit at Ibrox back in September 2007, before enduring a narrow 3-2 defeat in the return match in Stuttgart.

The goalscorers in those two clashes - Charlie Adam, Jean-Claude Darcheville and Barry Ferguson - may have since departed Govan but Smith believes the nucleus of the squad, who then went on to reach the UEFA Cup final that season, remains.

And, with the likes of Madjid Bougherra, Pedro Mendes and Steven Davis added to the ranks since then, he hopes his side are even stronger than the one who gave a good account of themselves in Europe's premier club competition back then.

"Our team hasn't really changed a great deal since the last time we played Stuttgart two years ago," said the Rangers boss.

"But I would like to think we have improved in certain areas. We had a decent Champions League campaign two years ago and this will be the test for us to see if we have improved to the level that we hope for."

Stuttgart have not enjoyed the best preparation for the visit of the Scottish champions, losing 3-1 to Hamburg at the weekend.

The defeat leaves Markus Babbel's men 11th in the Bundesliga and with just five points from as many games so far this term.

However, Smith refused to read too much into their opponents' domestic results, insisting they will still be a formidable side to overcome.

He said: "Stuttgart had a fantastic end to last season and they went on a great run of form to finish third in the Bundesliga.

"Any team can have a shaky start to a season and they are only five games into their league campaign.

"I don't feel we have started the season that well ourselves, although we have managed not to lose a game."

Stuttgart's cause has not been aided by the fact star man Alexander Hleb is struggling with a muscle strain picked up at the weekend.

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