Whittaker set for op as Gers begin League Cup defence

Rangers defender Steven Whittaker is set to undergo knee surgery to alleviate a problem that has kept him sidelined for much of this season.

Rangers boss Walter Smith confirmed that Whittaker would have to go under the knife as he prepared for Wednesday’s start to Rangers’ defence of the Scottish League Cup, a tournament he says has taken on added significance following the club’s early elimination from European competition.

Rangers, who also won the Scottish Cup last season, travel to first division opponents Partick Thistle in the third round and Smith admitted: “When you’re not involved in Europe, it becomes an important tournament for you.

“The domestic competition is the only thing left open for us at the moment.”

Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw by Partick at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup in March and made hard work of the replay before finally progressing with a 2-0 win at Firhill.

“Last season, when we played them, we were in the midst of a lot of fixture congestion,” Smith recalled. “We don’t have that problem now so there are no excuses from that point of view.

“We know the type of game to expect from all of the teams who compete against SPL teams in the League Cup, they are always awkward games to get over, especially away from home.”

As well as being without Whittaker, Smith is currently deprived of the services of Kyle Lafferty, Andrius Velicka, Lee McCulloch, Steven Smith and captain Barry Ferguson.