Buffel eased into Rangers return

Thomas Buffel will not play for the first team until next season

Rangers forward Thomas Buffel will not return to first-team action until next season after recovering from injury.

The 26-year-old Belgium international has been out since February with a knee problem which required surgery.

Rangers boss Walter Smith told the club's website: "It will be next season before he is playing again and back with us in the squad."

Buffel, who joined Rangers from Feyenoord for £2.5m two years ago, almost joined Hannover in January.

Smith told Rangers' website: "Thomas is coming along well. He had the operation on his knee in Belgium and spent some time there recuperating.

"But he will be back training with us at Murray Park later this week and continue his rehabilitation."

Smith granted Buffel permission to talk to Hannover about a possible move to the Bundesliga club when he succeeded Paul Le Guen as Rangers boss.

But Buffel failed to agree personal terms with the German club and he remained at Ibrox.