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Knee injury to sideline Rangers winger Naismith for 12 months

20/05/2008

Rangers are set to be without Steven Naismith for up to a year after the winger was forced to undergo an operation on his knee for an injury he picked up last month.

The player had to be stretchered off in his team's Scottish Cup semi-final tie against St Johnstone, a match which the Glasgow side eventually won on penalties.

The news comes as a blow to boss Walter Smith who originally believed that Naismith would be back in action by the start of this month.

Chris Burke was also injured in the game and will be on the sidelines for between four and six months in order to recover from surgery carried out on his ankle.

The injuries saw both players miss out on Rangers' Uefa Cup final defeat in Manchester and only add to the sick-list at Ibrox, which also contains the name of goalkeeper Alan McGregor, who picked up an ankle injury in April's Old Firm derby.

One player who won't be coming in to strengthen the squad is former fans' favourite Rino Gattuso, who has announced that he intends to see out the rest of his playing days with AC Milan and will not trade in the San Siro for Scotland.

"I want to end my career at Milan," the midfielder, who is married to a Scot, said.

"I will definitely remain here until 2011. After 2011, I'll see what to do."