New Euro injury crisis for Rangers as Carlos Cuellar is latest casualty

Jul 27 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

CARLOS CUELLAR is out of Rangers' Champions League qualifier against Kaunas after Walter Smith suffered yet another injury blow.

The Spaniard limped out of yesterday's win at Raithand will miss the Euro first leg on Wednesday.

Fellow crocks Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch should be fit to face Kaunas but Gers boss Smith is reeling from the loss of star stopper Cuellar who'll also be sidelined for the SPL opener at Falkirk on August 9.

He admitted last night Cuellar - last season's Football Writers' Player of the Year - may even be out of the return leg in Lithuania in a fortnight.

It's a huge setback for Rangers following the news captain Barry Ferguson will miss the first four months of the season with an ankle injury.

After the 2-1 friendly victory at Stark's Park, Smith couldn't hide his despair at losing Cuellar who lasted just 28 minutes of his first pre-season game.

Walter said: "Carlos is definitely out of Wednesday's match at least. We'll need to wait and see how he is for the second leg.

"It's another calf strain but not the one that has kept him out ofmost pre-season games."

Cuellar is set to be replaced by Christian Dailly for the crunch tie with Kaunas.

The veteran Scotland defender came on for the former Osasuna star against Raith - slotting in at right-back with Kirk Broadfoot moving to partner Davie Weir at the heart of defence.

Smith admitted it's a major setback to lose Cuellar but insists he has confidence in squad players like Dailly to fill in.

He said: "We have strength in depth and we'll have no problems filling the position.

But Carlos was a big player for us last season, he did so well.

"And after Barry's injury he's probably the one player we didn't want to lose. But we'll just have to get on with it."

Rangers star Kyle Lafferty was also gutted to lose the Spaniard for the first serious test of the new campaign.

But the former Burnley frontman is adamant they have enough quality to replace him and progress to the final Champions League qualifier.

He said: "Carlos is so important for us but there's enough talent ready to stand in for him and I'm sure whoever's picked will do a job.

"It's a big game and we have to be ready."