Smith welcomes Prso return

Walter Smith hopes Dado Prso can prove his injury problems are behind him as Rangers try and keep their Uefa Cup hopes alive against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Thursday.

The Scottish outfit have a 2-1 deficit to overturn at Ibrox and have been boosted by the prospective return of their Croatian striker who has been suffering with a hamstring injury over the past month.

Prso has also seen a persistent knee problem cast his long term future into doubt, but Smith is backing his hit-man to shrug off his recent frustration and help The Gers book a place in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup.

"It's frustrating for Dado as much as anyone else," said Smith. "He's a good influence on the team so there's frustration all round.

"He's clear of his hamstring injury now and he's managed to handle the knee injury over a period of seasons quite successfully.

"Hopefully he can get back down to that again without worrying about other types of injury.

"A fully fit Dado Prso would be a great boost to us. He's an experienced player, uses that experience well, and has a good level of ability.

"Now I see him at closer quarters I realise just how good a player he is."