Versatile Lee McCulloch set to reprise striker role

The Rangers manager is unable to call upon four of his strikers with Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller, Nacho Novo and Steven Naismith all sidelined by injury. Kyle Lafferty has recovered from the bout of flu which forced him to miss the midweek Scottish Cup win over Hamilton Accies but Smith has a decision to make over who partners the Northern Ireland international in attack.

While he has options in the shape of youngsters John Fleck, Andrew Little and Rory Loy, Smith hinted yesterday he will ask McCulloch to reprise the position with which he earned his reputation as a teenager at Motherwell.

The 31-year-old has operated mainly as a midfielder since leaving Fir Park for Wigan Athletic nine years ago and subsequently returning to Scotland with Rangers. Smith has even fielded McCulloch as a makeshift central defender.

But the former Scotland international has always retained an eye for goal, as he displayed in the recent Old Firm game at Celtic Park, and may be asked to play as a striker as Rangers seek the win which would move them 12 points clear at the top of the SPL.

"Lee can go back to his Motherwell roots if necessary," said Smith. "Since coming back to Rangers and working with him closely, I've realised he has good qualities which make him versatile enough to play in a number of positions.

"He has a good footballing brain and knows what is required of the positions he plays in. When you have a smaller first team squad than in previous years, as is our situation now, it's important to have players like Lee. He has been doing extremely well for us in any position we have played him in, although that might get a test if we play him at centre forward."

Smith has suffered another injury setback with American midfielder Maurice Edu reporting a minor ankle problem which will rule him out of today's game. Pedro Mendes is back in the squad for the first time since October, however, and has dismissed speculation linking him with a return to Portugal with Sporting Lisbon.

Mendes is likely to be on the bench against a Hearts side Smith believes will present a significant obstacle.

"Hearts have been doing well in the league recently and they are always a difficult team to score against," he said.

"I keep stressing to our players that, despite what is said and written, we have really only managed to get ourselves six points ahead of Celtic.

"I always assume they will win their games in hand, so that's all it is as far as I'm concerned.

"So it's a nice headline to say we can go 12 points clear, but for me the most important thing is just to keep winning."