United may well have to face the returning Barry Ferguson when Rangers host the Terrors at Ibrox on October 19th.

United may well have to face the returning Barry Ferguson when Rangers host the Terrors at Ibrox on October 19th.The Gers skipper has been out of action since undergoing ankle ligament surgery but looks likely to make an appearance in the reserves next week.

Rangers manager Walter Smith revealed the midfielder may be considered for the visit of the Arabs.

"I don't know yet if he will be able to play in next week's reserve game at Hibs," he said. "We will see how his training goes this week.

"He had a full week's training last week and if he can get another full week in then we can look at him playing in the Hibs game.

"However, we will wait until he is ready. He has been out for a few months now and when a player is out for that long, when he comes back he has to be fully prepared for it. We will give Barry the time that is necessary and if it is not next week then it will be the week after."