Ferguson and Burke enjoy reserve outing

BARRY Ferguson, the Rangers and Scotland captain, took a significant step towards a return to first-team action when he played for an hour in the Ibrox club's 3-0 SPL reserve league defeat of Hearts at Forthbank Stadium yesterday.

The midfielder, who has been sidelined since April with ankle and heel injuries, is now in contention for a place in Rangers' squad for Saturday's SPL meeting with Falkirk at Ibrox.

Yesterday's game was attended by Rangers manager Paul Le Guen, who received a further boost in the shape of a 45-minute appearance by Chris Burke. The Scotland winger, injured in a challenge by club-mate Fernando Ricksen during a friendly with Zenit St Petersburg two weeks ago, was initially expected to be ruled out for a month.

Le Guen can now expect to call upon both Ferguson and Burke for the start of Rangers' UEFA Cup campaign, which sees them face Molde in Norway next week in the first leg of their first-round tie.

Ferguson, who had played 45 minutes in a closed-door friendly against Dundee at Murray Park last Saturday, and Burke are both likely to be considered for a place on the substitutes' bench against Falkirk this weekend.

Rangers won yesterday's reserve match, which was also attended by Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas, with goals from Charlie Adam, Nacho Novo and 18-year-old Rory Loy, their £25,000 close-season signing from Kilmarnock. Czech striker Roman Bednar, who last week signed a four-year contract with Hearts, featured in the Tynecastle club's line-up.

Taken from the Scotsman