Gers duo add to injury woe

Rangers' pre-season injury jinx has struck again with the news that Steven Smith and Kyle Lafferty have joined the list of absentees.

Full-back Smith has been ruled out for up to six weeks with an ankle problem, while £3million signing Lafferty has picked up a back injury during training.

The Gers have already lost captain Barry Ferguson for three months with an ankle ligament injury and DaMarcus Beasley with a hamstring strain since returning to pre-season training.

"It's another blow for Stevie Smith who has not had his troubles to seek in recent times but we wish him a speedy recovery," manager Walter Smith told the club's official website.

"The Lafferty one is frustrating because when you sign a new player you want to bed him into the team quickly but he is at least another week away.

"I would have to say that he won't be available to us for the Champions League qualifier on July 30."