Smith delight at Ferguson return

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Ferguson happy with rehab after ankle op

Rangers manager Walter Smith believes he will field his strongest midfield should Barry Ferguson makes his comeback against Inverness.

Ferguson is set to end five months on the sidelines in Saturday's Scottish Premier League fixture.

The 30-year-old has finally recovered from the ankle injury that has kept him out of action so far this season.

"He's a really good footballer and the more of them we have in the team, the better," said Smith of his captain.

Smith has gone on record as saying that Ferguson would be an automatic choice when he became fully fit, despite the Ibrox club's midfield being transformed in his absence.

Pedro Mendes, Steven Davis and Kevin Thomson have become fixtures in Rangers' central midfield during Ferguson's absence.

"We were hoping we would have more games this season than we ended up with by getting knocked out of Europe early on," said Smith.

Hopefully, if it is Pedro and Barry, they can gel together quickly and we can keep going the way we've been going Rangers striker Kris Boyd

"And, with the group that we have in midfield now, one or two will miss out in different games.

"We're pleased to have them all and we have the strongest group in midfield than we've had for a good few years at Rangers, so we have to be happy about that."

Asked what Ferguson will add to the team, Smith added: "He's just a really good player. He's a terrific player.

"He had an exceptional season for us last season and he leads the club well."

Rangers striker Kris Boyd has backed Ferguson to make an impact for the side sitting three points adrift of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League but with a game in hand.

"It will be a massive boost for the squad," he said. "He's been training for a few weeks now and I'm sure, when he is match-sharp, it will benefit the squad further.

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"His presence as the captain and being a leader on the park are probably his main assets.

"But, when you look at his football ability, that has been missed as well. I'm sure he will be back up to speed in the next couple of weeks."

Mendes has made a major impression since his summer move from Portsmouth.

"Whoever the gaffer picks, I'm sure they will do their best for Rangers," said Boyd.

"Hopefully, if it is Pedro and Barry, they can gel together quickly and we can keep going the way we've been going."

Boyd hopes such a creative partnership will carve out plenty of goalscoring opportunities for the strikers.

"You only have to see the chances already being created every week for the strikers to get on the end of," he said.