Hampden run-out lifts Naismith

The Ibrox midfielder was given 74 minutes at Hampden on Wednesday night as the Scots held out for a 2-1 win against the Danes.

Naismith says he is grateful for as much game-time as possible as he bids to improve his match sharpness. As well as the defence of their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title, the Scottish champions face a Europa League qualifier against Maribor next week after crashing out of Champions League qualifying to Malmo.

Naismith said: "It does help. The more games you get early on, it definitely does help players who are playing in Scotland. It was a quick pre-season and a quick start to the season and, at the moment, what everybody needs is match time. It's another 70-odd minutes that I got in the Scotland game so I'm definitely happy."

Naismith has been on impressive form, netting twice already in the SPL ahead of tomorrow's early kick-off at Inverness.

Meanwhile, Rangers have moved to ease fears over the health of Sasa Papac by confirming the player does not have pneumonia. While the Bosnia and Herzegovina international did take unwell while on international duty, it seems reports of the exact nature of the illness were wide of the mark.

A statement on the club's official website read: "Sasa Papac will miss Saturday's trip to Inverness but Rangers are keen to point out that he does not have pneumonia. Papac travelled to Bosnia earlier this week with the intention of ending his international exile but felt unwell and was immediately ruled out of the game with Greece."

Rangers are boosted ahead of the trip to the Highlands by the news that Nikica Jelavic is expected to recover from a knee knock while new signing Dorin Goian could feature if he shakes off a hamstring problem in time but skipper David Weir is likely to remain sidelined with a similar injury. Rangers have yet to decide whether Steven Whittaker can play with a broken toe, which saw him withdraw from the Scotland squad for the win over Denmark.