Rangers (4/5 in Betfred’s match betting market) will welcome back Pedro Mendes for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash against Unirea Urziceni, but Madjid Bougherra will miss the Group G game.

The SPL leaders have just one point from their opening two games, away to Stuttgart and at home to Sevilla, and know they must beat the Romanian champions (7/2 to collect an away win) to keep alive their qualification hopes.

Former Spurs ace Mendes missed the weekend win at St Johnstone with a calf strain but has been passed fit and is expected to replace Kevin Thomson in the Gers midfield.

But the absence of Algerian international Bougherra, who damaged a knee in training, will come as a major blow to Water Smith, who must decide if Sasa Papac or Lee McCulloch will partner David Weir in the centre of defence. Rangers are 10/11 with Betfred to keep a clean sheet.

Smith has described the back-to-back games with Unirea as ‘vitally important’ and could include back Kenny Miller (9/2 to be first goalscorer) from the start, after he was an unused sub at the weekend.