Rangers midfielder Kevin Thompson, 24, has been ruled out for the season with cruciate knee ligament damage and faces surgery and eight months on the sidelines. Boss Walter Smith believes Thomson has the character to make a full recovery and is a potential Gers captain for the future.

"I really like him as a player," said Smith.

"He now has a reasonable level of experience to start imposing himself on games. That part was starting to come and he's got a hardness about him which is always essential in that midfield area.

"I've told Kevin often that he has to realise that he's got that capability to go and try to control things in every game he plays in.

"He's been inclined to go and let others play a leading role but in time I think leadership and captaincy will be something that come to him.

"He and Pedro Mendes have played well together over the past couple of months. I was also looking forward to getting Barry Ferguson in among that as well. So now I'll have to wait a while before I see that."