Football: Rangers must add Naismith to their all-stars

Aug 26 2007 ROB MACLEAN

RANGERS turned on a variety performance at Rugby Park to prolong their winning run and Walter Smith will want to add further to his all-star cast before the transfer show is over.

He already has a lot of attacking options in his new-look squad and he had a close look yesterday - as Rangers won 2-1 at Kilmarnock - at the young striker who could extend his frontline choice.

Twenty-year-old Steven Naismith starred at Celtic Park on the opening weekend of the season while the rumour machine was still linking him with a move to the champions.

He was bright, bubbly and as aggressive as I've ever seen him as Celtic were held to a 0-0 draw.

And, with Rangers again in the frame to sign Naismith before the transfer window closes, there was a feast of Steven on show yesterday.

He had a hand in Killie's equaliser, along with Colin Nish and scorer Danny Invincible, and was always a threat to Davie Weir and Carlos Cuellar.

It's surely time for Rangers to follow through their interest with an offer which Killie can't refuse.

As I wrote earlier in the summer, the first bid Rangers lodged - which meant a down payment of £200,000 - was insulting.

They've upped the ante since then but still haven't come up with a package of around £2million which would get their man.

Kilmarnock have done their fans proud by holding out for a realistic price.

Manager Jim Jefferies won't see any of the transfer fee and won't be able to find a straight replacement. But they coped with the departure of Kris Boyd to Rangers and I'm sure they'll find a way to dull the pain when Naismith goes.

The acquisition of speedy striker Ryan Jarvis on loan from Norwich is a step in that direction. And Killie have more young talent in the form of Ryan O'Leary and Jamie Hamill, who will only get better.

Rangers have richer resources but Naismith will give them something they don't yet have between midfield and front.

Maybe they'll have to sacrifice the anchorman abilities of Brahim Hemdani to make the Naismith transfer happen.

Gaffer Smith is being honest when he says he doesn't want to sell the former Marseille skipper who has been outstanding in the holding role in the first few games.

But needs must and, if Osasuna are serious about taking Hemdani to Spain, Rangers might be ready to sell the defensive midfielder to finance Naismith's capture.

Especially if they can take a serious slice off the wage bill in the process.

The lively striker would have helped Rangers make more of the brilliant holdup work of supersub Jean-Claude Darcheville yesterday.

Naismith, who ploughed a lone furrow for Kilmarnock for much of the match, must have looked on in envy at the openings created by the hustle and bustle of the veteran Frenchman, who didn't take to the pitch until half-time but still won the man-of-the-match award.

Killie central defenders O'Leary and Simon Ford, who might have breathed a sigh of relief at the interval when Daniel Cousin retired hurt, found his replacement too hot to handle.

When the ball's played in to Darcheville's feet, his boxer's build makes it impossible for anyone to get near it.

He can either lay it off or spin away from his marker with explosive pace for a crack himself.

JC's sharpness, even with a lingering achilles injury, was underlined with his swiftly-taken match winning finish 15 minutes from time.

His impressive cameo role has set Smith a selection problem but one that the Rangers boss is happy to have.

Cousin and Kris Boyd were his striking combo at Kilmarnock. Darcheville and unused Nacho Novo were on the bench. Alan Gow was in the stand.

Keeping them all happy will be mission impossible but Smith has no interest in what place he occupies in the popularity ratings.

His planned route to success involves serious competition for places around the pitch and that policy has already won him results in the attacking positions.

Boyd, Cousin, Darcheville and Novo have all scored in Rangers' magnificent seven wins on the bounce to open the season.

And Smith can make the striking competition even stiffer at Ibrox if Rangers name the right price for Naismith.