Naismith backed to overcome injury

Former Rangers midfielder Dave Smith broke his leg twice in the same calendar year and is now tipping Steven Naismith to recover from his own double blow.

Striker Naismith will not return for Rangers until next season after sustaining knee ligament damage for the second time in his Ibrox career in a match at Aberdeen back in October. Since then Rangers have struggled without him and Smith feels it is time for those tasked with replacing him to do their jobs properly.

"Steven has been through one serious knee injury before so he knows what's ahead of him," said Smith.

Smith, speaking to promote a 40th anniversary dinner for the 'Barcelona Bears', the Rangers European Cup Winners' Cup team he was a part of in 1972, feared for his career during his injury problems.

But the 68-year-old reckons Naismith has the mental strength to bounce back and is more worried about how Rangers are faring without him.

Smith said: "They've missed Steven Naismith there's no doubt about that. He reminds me a bit of Alex MacDonald because he did a lot of work that nobody recognised apart from those playing with him.

"But clubs like Rangers should be able to manage without one player. It's 11 playing so you should be able to manage without a single player, but sometimes it's hard. Steven Naismith gives the other players a lift with his energy.

"That's what's been lacking for Rangers since he went missing, that energy, and nobody yet has stepped up to the mark.

"There were 51 weeks between my leg breaks. It was a mental thing for me. Ronnie McKinnon in my era was the fittest man at Ibrox before he also broke his leg. It was different for him after that. You have to learn how to walk again which is very difficult.

"When I broke mine the second time in training, a then team-mate Colin Stein ran up to me and my first reaction was to say I was finished."