Football: Smith sets his mind on resurrecting Rangers

WALTER SMITH shrugged off speculation over Paul Gascoigne's future yesterday and set his sights on reviving his side's title challenge at Motherwell today. The Rangers manager takes his injury-hit squad to Fir Park for the third time this season knowing they have yet to come away with a victory.

With the England midfielder's future dominating this week, Smith is anxious to reaffirm that securing a 10th successive Premier Division title remains his priority. Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup will again be missing through injury, both having only an outside chance of being fit for Wednesday's Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Dundee.

With the loss of the injured Sergio Porrini and Gordon Durie and the suspensions of Richard Gough and Stuart McCall - apparently for the first time in the midfielder's career - Smith is understandably reticent about discussing Gascoigne's situation further.

"He is still a Rangers player, and by all accounts he might be fit in time for Wednesday," he said. "But, as far as I am concerned, the only problem I have got is tomorrow's game. It is one that we really need to win to keep the pressure up on the two teams above us."