Rangers hero Dado Prso has urged manager Walter Smith to find a regular place in his team for striker Kris Boyd.

Boyd, 24, has started just 12 SPL matches this season and also been a spectator for most of Rangers' European campaign.

The striker hit 52 goals in 58 league starts over the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons, but his overall contribution to matches has been called into question in some quarters.

However Prso, who played alongside him in many of those games before retiring last summer, believes Boyd still has plenty to offer.

Boyd faces competition from the likes of Jean-Claude Darcheville, Nacho Novo, Steven Naismith and Daniel Cousin, but Prso would always select the former Kilmarnock striker.

"It is for the coach to decide whether it is Nacho or someone else who plays up front but Kris is someone I think should be playing," Prso said.

"Of course, it is easy for me to say who I would like to see in the team when I am not on the pitch.

"But I like Kris. It was good to play alongside him and in my opinion he is the top striker in Scottish football.

"I always said to him that he can score goals and I still think that is the case. For me, Boyd is the man and he should always play."

Boyd was again a substitute on Wednesday night and played no part as Rangers were held to a goalless draw by Panathinaikos in their home leg of the UEFA Cup third-round tie.

Novo was selected ahead of him to play off lone striker Lee McCulloch, who was bought from Wigan in the summer, primarily to play in midfield.

When Rangers made changes in the second half, it was Cousin who came on rather than Boyd, to the obvious disappointment of many in the crowd who had been hoping to see the Scotland international stride off the bench.

Gabon striker Cousin has been waiting for the go-ahead to complete a £3 million transfer to Fulham, and FIFA will rule next week on whether the complicated move can be completed.

If Cousin does leave for London, Boyd may be called upon to play a more active role in next week's clash with Panathinaikos in Athens.

Prso added that he is convinced good times lie ahead for the Premier League leaders, who have gone almost three years without winning a major trophy.

"I can see the title coming back to Ibrox this season," said the 33-year-old Croatian.

"But I don't think Rangers will stop there as they are showing how hungry they are."

Sporting Life / Eurosport