Rangers boss Walter Smith says defender Andy Webster can have a successful Ibrox career.

Smith has backed Webster to play a significant role at Ibrox when he returns from his loan spell at Dundee United.

"I have been impressed by Andy," Smith told Rangers News. "He has been captain at Dundee United and, as someone who is on loan, that's a real accolade for him.

"It's a reflection of how the people up there view him and the reason I let him go elsewhere was because he was going through a terrible injury period here.

"He wasn't settling down but I'm hoping the confidence he gets from going out on loan and playing can kick-start his career when he comes back to us next season."

Smith, who is working without a contract as the club push on with takeover talks with a consortium headed by London-based estate agent Andrew Ellis, added: "I'm not sure of what future any of us will have here but I think putting him out to United has worked well for him.

"He had a hard period here where, due to contractual situations and his transfer from Hearts to Wigan, he stalled a bit.

"He had a terrific start to his career but it hit the skids when that happened to him and he was unfortunate when he came here and played just once in two-and-a-half years.

"If my memory serves me correctly, he scored in that one against Gretna but injuries limited him a lot. I think he's over that now.

"I certainly hope he is and I like to think he can come back with the confidence he had three or four years ago."