Injury doubts over Rangers defender

Rangers will run checks on Karl Svensson’s fitness tomorrow morning before finalising their team to face Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Cup.

The 22-year-old Swedish central defender risks missing the second leg of the last-16 tie after sustaining a groin injury in Sunday’s Bank of Scotland Premier League victory over Falkirk.

Manager Walter Smith said: “Karl Svensson will have a fitness test in the morning.

“Brahim Hemdani is one option to replace him if he doesn’t make it and he’s played at the back in many occasions this season.

“He’s been playing well, though, in midfield so it would be a disappointment if we had to move him back into defence.

“Hopefully Karl will be okay.”

Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson are poised to team up in midfield after both trained this morning at Murray Park.

Ferguson also sustained a groin injury against Falkirk, while Thomson has recently been sidelined by a hamstring problem, but both are expected to play in tomorrow night’s Ibrox clash, where Rangers will seek to overturn Hapoel’s 2-1 lead.

Smith said on www.rangers.co.uk: “As long as there’s no reaction – and there’s a possibility with these injuries – they will both be fit to play.”