Rangers sweat over Fergie fitness
The midfielder aggravated a knee ligament injury, which he had been carrying for several weeks, in training on Monday and now faces a late fitness test.
Ferguson was a surprise omission from the team which started against Hearts in the SPL at the weekend, with Rangers slumping to a 4-2 defeat.
He played the second half in Edinburgh but the reverse at Tynecastle, the first of the season for Smith’s men, underlined the importance of the captain’s contribution with tonight’s game looming large.
“Barry will get treatment today (Tuesday) and there will have to be a fitness test tomorrow before we know if he will be fit or not,” said Smith.
“Obviously we hope he is. He has been playing for the last three weeks or so with this injury and it’s just when he gets a little knock on it, as he did in training yesterday, that it becomes rather painful.
“We are hopeful it will settle down and he will be fit and will be able to play.”
Stuttgart head coach Armin Veh fully expects Barry Ferguson to feature against his team.
Veh admits the loss of the influential midfielder would be a massive boost for Stuttgart but insists that is unlikely to happen.
“It certainly wouldn’t be a disadvantage if he didn’t play,” he said. “But most likely he will play, that is what I would expect.”
Veh confirmed Turkey midfielder Yildiray Basturk could make his debut for the club at Ibrox. Basturk has still to feature since his summer switch from Hertha Berlin.
Stuttgart are already without star midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger while defender Ludovic Magnin will travel to Glasgow after suffering a stomach ache.
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