Walter Smith says SPL should structure fixtures to help clubs in Europe

Rangers return to domestic action with a noon kick-off against Hearts at Tynecastle today, some 62 and a half hours after the dust settled on their 1-0 win over Bursaspor at Ibrox on Wednesday night.

It is the first of five successive away fixtures the Scottish champions will play in the SPL immediately after being in Champions League action, with trips to Celtic, St Mirren, Dundee United and Inverness following their remaining Group C games.

Having seen a benefit from Fifa's decision to switch international 'double header' qualifying matches to Friday and Tuesday evenings in order to allow players more recovery time ahead of their clubs' next games, Smith believes the SPL should consider offering similar dispensation to those teams representing them in Europe.

"I don't want to get into fixture arguments with anyone," said the Rangers manager, "but, setting aside our own situation at the moment, they should have a look at the overall situation in regard to Scottish clubs playing in Europe to see if they could move games back a day.

"Valencia, for example, have managed to get their league game at Barcelona moved back a day before they play us in the next Champions League fixture. They seem to be able to do that whether it is televised or not.

"For us to play at Aberdeen last Sunday, then in the Champions League on Wednesday and now practically on Saturday morning certainly gives us a test, especially when other Scottish clubs are playing Saturday to Saturday with no midweek games.

"You have to ask an awful lot of players to get the same intensity into their game. The same applies with international games when the boys go away for what are normally high-intensity and high-profile matches. Coming back from that is not easy.

"From that point of view, it has been a big help having the international games a day earlier. It gives players time to recover for the following weekend with their club. That is recognition that something can be done to help clubs.

"I would hope in the future the SPL would do what they can to help any team in Europe. It would help all of the clubs."

Smith previously locked horns with the SPL on the issue at the end of the 2007-08 season when Rangers played their final six league matches in a 19-day period prior to the Uefa Cup final. He dismissed the prospect of asking the SPL to make any changes to Rangers' schedule over the coming months.

"We asked previously and were knocked back," added Smith. "I don't want to make a big fuss about this as it is done.The fixtures are out and five of our fixtures after Champions League games are away from home.

"Circumstances like the ones we face this week are awkward but we just need to get on with it. Our games at Tynecastle are always high tempo and I'm sure this one will be the same. So it's a matter of us making sure we play in the same manner we have done in our last three or four games."

Smith's immediate concerns ahead of today's match lie in defence where both Madjid Bougherra and Kirk Broadfoot will be assessed this morning after suffering hip and foot injuries respectively against Bursaspor. Andy Webster returns to the squad as a potential replacement for Bougherra.

Nikica Jelavic, ineligible for the Champions League, is one player who will be untroubled by the presently hectic nature of Rangers' fixture list. The Croatian international striker is building what looks like a formidable partnership with Kenny Miller who spoke in glowing terms of his new team-mate yesterday.

Miller, who was named Clydesdale Bank/SPL Player of the Month for the second month in a row, said: "As much as we miss Nikica on the European nights, it's good to have him eager and hungry to get back on the pitch when the weekend comes around.

"He has settled in really well and got off to a good start. I feel the two of us have a good understanding already. I've been among the goals and he's scored a few already. I think the partnership can get even better.

"The type of player he is, he will find the SPL easy to settle into. Goalscoring is his main strength but he is also good technically and holds the ball up really well.

"Look at my second goal against Dundee United a couple of weeks ago, when he went through at 3-0 and no-one would have blamed him if he'd tried to score himself.

"But he picked the right option, cut the ball back and gave me a tap-in. I don't think Kris Boyd would have cut it back to me in that situation, although he'd probably have scored, to be fair. But it can only help me to play up front with someone like Nikica."