WISE AND SHINE

KARL SVENSSON may become the latest victim of Walter Smith's determination to make Rangers a tougher nut to crack.

But even if the young Swede makes way for new signing Ugo Ehiogu against Hearts this afternoon, Smith will pull Svensson aside and tell the 22-year-old he can still have a big future at Ibrox.

The Rangers manager believes there is a decent defender inside Svensson trying to get out and that training and playing with stoppers of the experience of Ehiogu and David Weir will improve him enormously.

Smith will decide this morning whether Svensson or Ehiogu gets the nod to face Hearts in a showdown that could almost kill the Edinburgh side's hopes of finishing SPL runners up for the second season running.

And even if the manager goes with the Englishman he reckons Svensson can still be a long-term option. Smith said: "Karl came into Rangers at a very difficult time. He is learning a new type of football and what it takes to be successful in this type of football.

"He's only young and I feel he has got a chance. I'm hoping he can pick up a bit from the experience of Davie Weir and Ugo Ehiogu. That will only help him." Smith believes Svensson was the victim of circumstances on his arrival in Scotland from IFK Gothenburg - pitched into a physical style of foot-b all that was alien to him, without having the help of an experienced sidekick to show him the ropes.

The manager added: "He's had a very difficult introduction by not having the benefit of a tried and tested centre-half playing next to him and who could help him with his introduction to a different type of game.

"There is a slightly different emphasis placed on our football and he has to adapt to that.

"When he came here under Paul Le Guen, Paul as a manager would have needed time to adapt to that. It's Scottish football and that's the way it is, so you need a rough idea of what is required."

If Smith opts for experience ahead of youth against Hearts this afternoon 34-year-old Ehiogu insists he's ready and primed for his debut despite a lack of recent match practice.

The former England defender has played just 19 minutes of first-team football for Middlesbrough this season, although he did manage half a dozen matches on loan at Leeds last month.

Ehiogu said: "I think I'll be fit enough to play. It's been three or four weeks since my last 90 minutes but I've been training every day. I'm expecting some kind of adjustment but if I didn't think I was ready I wouldn't have put myself forward to come here.

"Most people who play down south don't even look for results or consider a move really but it was a nice shock. It's a long way to come just to commit yourself to the end of the season so I'm delighted to sign for 18 months."

Rangers' newest recruit could form a central partnership with Weir that has prompted jibes on radio phone-ins due to their combined age of 70.

But while a smiling Ehiogu can clearly see the funny side of the joke he feels both himself and Weir still have plenty to offer.

He said: "Look at Teddy Sheringham who is 40 and is still complaining about not playing enough games at West Ham.

"At the end of the day if you are doing your job properly it doesn't matter what age you are. Hopefully myself and Davie can pass on a lot of experience to some of the younger players.

"Davie's a good pro who knows his trade inside out. Many people forget that defending is an art as much as goal-scoring is. From what I've seen of him he takes pride in his defending.

"The aim is to strike up a relationship quickly, although the more games we play the better understanding we will have.

"There is a responsibility on us as central defence is a key area of the team, although it's not just us."

Ehiogu spent 15 years at the height of his profession with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough before Rangers handed him an 18-month deal in midweek.

The veteran collected four England caps and was Boro's record signing at £8million before injury restricted his impact at the Riverside.

But despite the latest setbacks Ehiogu still believes he has the hunger to prove himself north of the border. He said: "Injury-wise it hasn't been a good few years and that's the only reason I haven't been in the team.

"It was my decision to go to Leeds and get some match fitness. I could have easily stayed at Boro as I was under no pressure to leave.

"If I didn't think I had the desire and ability to play I wouldn't have brought my family up here. That's not something I would do lightly.

"There is always something still to prove. For me I just want to play football and you don't get the chance to do that with a club like Rangers very often.

"I don't know too much about the SPL but it's very competitive and the standard is better than most people down south think it is.

"When you watched Celtic beat Manchester United, our top team, in the Champions League, then you have to take notice."

Taken from the Daily Record