Rangers play down McGregor injury

McGregor missed the end of last season after a knee operation

Rangers manager Walter Smith has played down suggestions that goalkeeper Allan McGregor has a major knee problem.

"There is nothing serious," Smith said after comments attributed to Scotland boss George Burley.

"Allan has a little bit of swelling behind his knee, which has bothered him at different times.

"We have just been checking the cause of that, but he hasn't been missing any training and he will be fit to play at the weekend."

The Glasgow club were responding to quotes attributed to Burley in a Monday newspaper suggesting that McGregor had been troubled by fluid on the knee for the last month.

But Rangers stress that the goalkeeper, who missed the end of last season after a knee operation, is not in need of surgery, despite reports that he will have another scan this week.

He was 100% fit when he played against Argentina and he wouldn't be playing regularly if he couldn't do it Scotland manager George Burley

McGregor has struggled to regain the form that led to him vying with Craig Gordon for the Scotland jersey last season.

The 26-year-old was dropped by Smith after an uncertain start to the present campaign but has since regained his place in the Ibrox first team from Neil Alexander.

With Gordon missing through injury, McGregor was in goal for Scotland during this month's 1-0 friendly defeat by Argentina.

Burley also played down the Rangers goalkeeper's injury as he made the draw for the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Monday.

"Allan has been playing regularly for Rangers and doing well," he said.

"He was 100% fit when he played against Argentina and he wouldn't be playing regularly if he couldn't do it.

"So it's not a problem. Rangers will be looking after that and it's something they will be monitoring all the time."