Gers pair raring to go

Thomson: Close to return

Lee McCulloch is looking forward to the season ahead after getting the green-light on his Rangers' future, while long-term injury victim Kevin Thomson is hoping to play again soon.

McCulloch was unsure of his future with the Scottish champions as boss Walter Smith looks to reduce his squad size.

But the 31-year-old has now been told he remains part of Smith's plans and the versatile former Motherwell and Wigan player cannot wait for the season to get underway.

He told the Daily Record: "It looks like I'll be staying and that's something I'm happy about.

"Last season was difficult because I was in and out of the team but I thought I did all right when I played.

"Obviously you want to be playing more football but I spoke to the manager and everything seemed to go well.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing again this season because it's a massive one for us."

McCulloch says he is happy to play in any position to help out and hopefully improve on the 18 appearances he made last term.

Willing

He added: "I enjoyed playing at centre-half last year but I'm willing to start anywhere.

"If it came to playing there again I know I wouldn't be first choice but I'll happily fill in if there are injuries or suspensions and I know I need to be ready.

"I have never really held down a regular position in my career.

"I would obviously like to but it has always been this way, right back to when I turned 16 at Motherwell.

"I made my debut at Fir Park as a striker but then I played on the left, the right and through the middle under Billy Davies and Alex McLeish.

"I quite like playing different positions as you get to know the game better.

"And you're probably a handy guy to have around if you can adapt."

Thomson hopes

Meanwhile, midfielder Thomson hopes to get some game time during the club's German tour as he prepares to play for the first time since damaging his cruciate ligament last November.

Thomson had ruled himself out of the club's Sportfreunde Lotte friendly on Friday - which was rained off - after his knee swelled up following the team flight.

Now the extra time to recover from the flight gives him every chance of brushing off the minor setback and appearing in Sunday's friendly against Nurnberg.

The 24-year-old told the club's official website: "I felt great on Friday morning when I first woke up but there was a bit of fluid in it and it was a bit more puffy than usual.

"That's because of the flight from Glasgow we had on Thursday and it meant I wouldn't have played at Lotte so I wasn't too bothered that the game was cancelled.

"While there are 20-odd frustrated boys in the squad at the moment, there's one happy one as well.

"It's a wee bit frustrating I had the issue with my knee but it's all part and parcel of coming back from a serious injury.

"In the first 10 or 12 days of pre-season, it was a bit like that where I'd feel fantastic and move well sometimes but find a wee bit of fluid there on other occasions.

"I always knew it would be a case of taking a couple of steps forward and one back every now and then but I'm still on target to get some game time over here."