Mendes injury boost for Rangers

Mendes has enjoyed an excellent first season at Ibrox

Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes is in line to make a rapid return from injury, having missed Saturday's 1-0 win at Hamilton with a thigh problem.

The influential Portuguese playmaker has sustained some minor tissue damage but there is no muscle tear.

"It's just a matter of when his injury settles down," manager Walter Smith told the club website.

"I think the Inverness game will come too early for him on Wednesday but we're hopeful he'll be back on Sunday."

At the weekend, Rangers host Hamilton in the sixth-round of the Scottish Cup in a match that will be screened live by BBC Scotland.

"It is unusual for Pedro to get an injury and he'll be disappointed at dropping out of the team a couple of days ago," added Smith.

MY SPORT: DEBATE How important is Mendes for Rangers?

"We were disappointed to lose him too but he'll come back and I'm sure everything will be okay."

Mendes moved to Ibrox from Portsmouth for a £3m fee in August and has been a key player for the Scottish Premier League leaders.