Rangers boss Walter Smith has pencilled in Barry Ferguson for a return to the first-team for the weekend clash with Inverness.

Ferguson has been out of action since the summer after undergoing surgery on his troublesome ankle problem.

The Gers skipper came through a reserve team outing last week unscathed and he is set for another run-out for the second string this week against Dundee United.

Smith has revealed Ferguson will be in his plans to face Inverness at Ibrox next weekend, if he comes through the reserve clash without any ill-effects.

“Barry will get another game on Wednesday and I’m hopeful that if he gets through that match without any problems, he’ll come back in at the weekend,” Smith told club’s official website.

“I don’t mean that it terms of his injury because that’s okay now. If the after-effects of playing in midweek aren’t too severe, we would look at him coming in on Saturday.

Anxious

“It is natural people are anxious now to get him back. I’ll involve Barry in the pool of players for the Hamilton game but that game might be a bit early for him.

“He will play against United’s reserves and after that, I’d hope he’ll become more gradually involved with the full side.

“Barry played at St Mirren and did all of his training last week then had a recovery day yesterday so we’ll see how he is at training today.

“He is itching to get back playing again but he has an awareness of his injury now, as we do. When he makes his comeback, he’ll be ready for it.”

 

MO EDU says he is ready to make his mark at Rangers after taking time to adapt to the Scottish game.

The American midfielder is in line to play against Hamilton in the League Cup tomorrow night and could replace Kevin Thomson as he is struggling with an ankle knock.

More than two months have passed since Edu signed for the club on the five-year deal from MLS outfit Toronto FC.

So far he has made just one 65-minute appearance against Kilmarnock and he has been a more regular feature of Tommy Wilson’s reserve team.

But having finally got to grips with the game in this country, the 22-year-old feels capable of stepping back into the first XI again and making a positive impact.

Edu said: “I hope I can play against Hamilton. Every week I prepare myself for the event that my name is called and it has been no different this week.

“I’m just working hard in training. Every footballer wants to play but I knew I was joining a winning team when I came here.

“There’s a lot of talent in there already and with the summer signings that were made, that has increased further.

“I knew it would be difficult to get on the field so I have been training hard and I’ve stayed patient.

“The SPL is definitely a step up from the MLS and it’s a hard, physical game. I’ve done well as I’ve adjusted so far and I’m more comfortable than I was when I got here at first.

“I knew it would take time to adapt. Any time you increase the standard, there’s a little period where you try to change and settle in.

“I think I’ve had a chance to be here for a while now, train with the guys, see a few games and play in one and I’ve been getting positive feedback from the staff.

“I feel a part of things now and as time goes on, I’ll hopefully get some more matches under my belt and I’ll continue to develop.”

Rangers will come up against Hamilton for the second time in four days in the quarter-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup following their SPL meeting on Saturday.

Walter Smith’s men won that one 3-1 but Edu knows that means nothing ahead of their re-match at Ibrox.

He added: “I think it’ll be difficult and playing any team twice within the space of a few days is hard.

“After playing them at their place, they’ll have a bit of a chip on their shoulder when they come to play at our home.

“Any team that comes here wants to do well because it’s a great club to play at and it’s a huge event for them.

“Hamilton will come here really motivated and it’s difficult to beat the same team twice in a row so we’ll have our work cut out.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHov7Ttz5t0]

 

FT: Hamilton 1 v 3 Rangers

89 min: Lafferty battles of possession as the fourth official indicates an extra two minutes to be played.

87 min: Davis is still full of industry and looking to find Boyd at every opportunity as the forward chases a hat trick.

82 min: SUBSTITUTION – Hamilton
Richard Offiong replaces Simon Mensing

82 min: SUBSTITUTION – Rangers
Kyle Lafferty replaces Kenny Miller

79 min: GOAL – Hamilton 1 v 3 Rangers
Nacho Novo makes the most of Canning’s mistake to stride through on goal and slot home a third that should seal three points for his side.

75 min: Boyd knocks the ball down just inside the area and Davis prods a shot goalward but he can’t find the net.

73 min: SUBSTITUTION – Rangers
Nacho Novo replaces DaMarcus Beasley.

73 min: Boyd comes close to a hat trick as he curls an effort just wide from 20 yards.

72 min: Beasley is found again, this time by Boyd on the left but he can’t break free of the Hamilton back line as Rangers look to counter.

70 min: A lovely pass by Mendes gives Beasley plenty of room in the middle of the park but the American’s pass wide to Davis is wayward and Hamilton have a throw in.

66 min: SUBSTITUTIONS – Hamilton
Mark Corcoran and David Graham replace James Gibson and Lucas Akins.

65 min: Hamilton have dropped the tempo considerably in the second half and Rangers are benefitting with Mendes and Davis enjoying more time on the ball.

61 min: Miller delivers another teasing cross but again it’s out of reach of the advancing Boyd and Beasley.

60 min:  A misunderstaning between Bougherra and Broadfoot sees the Algerian allow the ball to run out for a corner. He’ll be relieved to see it well cleared.

58 min: Boyd performs defensive duties in his own box as he his in place to head clear a dangerous looking corner.

55 min: Miller’s endeavour wins him some space on the right and he fizzes the ball across the face of the goal. It’s just out of reach of Boyd but the two goal striker applauds the intent.

53 min: Davis tries to release Boyd for the chance of a hat trick but the striker looks to return it to Davis and the midfielder is crowded out.

49 min – GOAL: Hamilton 1 v 2 Rangers
Beasley does well to intercept deep in his own half and start a counter attack that ends withKris Boyd nodding in Steven Davis’ pin point cross.

46 min: Rangers get the second half started with no changes for either side.

HT: Hamilton 1 v 1 Rangers
The weather has played havoc with the quality of football on display but Rangers will be happy to have drawn level before the interval.

44 min: Pedro Mendes breaks free on the left side of the box but his attempt at a cross curls behind for a goal kick.

40 min – GOAL: Hamilton 1 v 1 Rangers
Boyd converts from the spot.

40 min: PENALTY – Rangers
Miller is fouled in the box by McLenahan as he goes for Broadfoot’s cross.

37 min: Miller wins a free kick on the right and Thomson takes it quickly to pick out Davis, but the Northern Ireland star’s floated effort drifts past the post.

33 min: Mendes tries to pick out Boyd but his long ball is carried through to Cerny by the wind.

30 min: Buoyed by the goal, Hamilton are enjoying a sustained period of possession and an animating Ally McCoist is trying to rally his side from the touchline.

25 min – GOAL: Hamilton 1 v 0 Rangers
Gers are safe for just two minutes as Mensing takes a free kick from the same side andBrian Easton puts Hamilton one up.

23 min: Hamilton force their first corner as Broadfoot clears a cross and the home side threaten to open the scoring from the set piece as the crossbar saves Gers.

20 min: Canning fouls Boyd again and Davis swings a free kick in that looks like it has earned a corner before the wind carries it out for a throw.

18 min: Weather conditions are not making it easy for either team and the game has yet to see its first real chance.

15 min: Boyd and Miller combine well and the former wins a free kick on the edge of the box as he is fouled by Canning. He takes the kick himself but drags it wide of the post.

12 min: Again Miller is heavily involved as he swings in a cross looking for his striker partner Boyd, forcing Hamilton to concede another corner.

10 min: Miller is caught offside as he tries to latch on to Davis’ pass. A tight call and Miller isn’t impressed.

9 min: Miller releases Broadfoot on the right and the big full back wins a free kick when Brian Easton barges him off the ball. Thomson swings in the set piece and it flies just wide of the far post.

7 min: Gers win their first corner but as the ball is floated in Boyd is penalised for a push in the box.

6 min: Miller chases down another long ball but Tomas Cerny gets there just ahead of him and manages to hang on to the ball at the edge of his box.

4 min: Beasley wins a free kick on the left as he is pushed off the ball by Alex Neil. Boyd wins a knockdown in the box from the resulting set piece but there’s no one there to pick up on it.

2 min: Miller chases a ball down the left but it skids off the slippery surface and out for a throw.

0 min: Hamilton get the game underway in strong winds and driving rain.

TEAMS
RANGERS: McGregor; Broadfoot, Bougherra, Weir, Papac; Davis, Mendes, Thomson, Beasley; Miller, Boyd.
SUBS: Alexander, Dailly, McMillan, Loy, Darcheville, Lafferty, Novo.

HAMILTON: Cerny, Mensing, Easton, McCarthy, Swailes, Canning, McClenahan, McArthur, Akins, Neil, Gibson.
SUBS: Murdoch, Elebert, Casement, Ettien, Corcoran, Offiong, Graham.

Venue: New Douglas Park Date: Saturday, 25 October Kick-off: 1230 BSTCoverage: BBC Radio Scotland & BBC Sport website. Highlights on website from midnight on Sunday and on Monday’s Sportscene, BBC One Scotland @ 2235 BST

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Match Odds  Hamilton 9/1 Draw 15/4 Rangers 1/3

Saturday’s Scottish Premier League visit by Rangers comes too soon for Mark McLaughlin as the defender continues his return from injury. 

But manager Billy Reid has no fresh injury worries and will name a similar side to the one that lost at home to St Mirren last weekend.

Lee McCulloch, Steven Whittaker and Chris Burke are all available to Rangers after recovering from injury.

But the game comes too soon for returning captain Barry Ferguson.

 

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Hamilton Academical: (from) Cerny, Mensing, Casement, Canning, Swailes, Easton, McCarthy, McArthur, Neil, Corcoran, Akins, Offiong, Graham, Ettien, Murdoch, Elebert, Lyle, Taylor.

Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Papac, Weir, Bougherra, Thomson, Lafferty, Mendes, Adam, Davis, Darcheville, Boyd, Miller, Alexander, Beasley, Dailly, Niguez, Loy, McCulloch, Whittaker, Burke.

 

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Rangers manager Walter Smith:
“Barry Ferguson’s been a big factor in our team, so we look forward to him coming back.

“But we’ve got a squad of players there and it’s not necessary to rush him back. We will make sure he’s right this time.

“After losing to St Mirren, we have to make sure we are ready for this one.

“But it will be a tough one for us. When a team gets promotion, they are always highly-motivated in their games against Rangers and Celtic, especially in the home matches.”

 

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Last season: n/a

 

 

HAMILTON ACCIES

Last five league matches: W L L L L

Top scorer: David Graham – 3

 

 

RANGERS

Last five matches: W W W W L

Top scorers: Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller – 4

 

Douglas McDonald