Barry's back. After five months on the sidelines, Barry Ferguson is set to make his long-awaited return against Inverness Caledonian Thistle this afternoon.

Barry's back. After five months on the sidelines, Barry Ferguson is set to make his long-awaited return against Inverness Caledonian Thistle this afternoon.

The 30-year-old played an hour in a reserve match against St Mirren a week past Tuesday, his first run-out since the Scottish Cup final win over Queen of the South in May, and is likely to make a substitute appearance against the visiting Highlanders.

The Rangers captain's recovery from ankle surgery could not be more timely with the club facing five games over the next 15 days. "He'll come into our thoughts," said Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, who also has Steven Whittaker available again after injury. "After the reserve game, I think he is ready to play. It's really a case of how he would be best introduced. We've got five games in the next couple of weeks, and, within that period, we will get him back to full match fitness."

Rangers have strengthened their midfield options considerably during Ferguson's injury enforced absence. The addition of Steven Davis and Pedro Mendes at the start of the season has given them added quality, while Maurice Edu, Kevin Thomson and Charlie Adam, means they now have strength in depth.

The prospect of Mendes and Ferguson as a central midfield partnership is a mouth-watering one for Smith, not to mention the Rangers support. "They're good footballers," said Smith, of Mendes and Ferguson. "Both have the capability of being forward midfield players if need be, or sitting slightly deeper. I have no fears about them complementing each other.

"Kevin Thomson, although he doesn't always get the best write-ups, does well for us, too. The middle has been an area where we wanted to improve our level of possession. I'm looking forward to seeing how they all gel. They're obviously not going to all play at the one time, but I think, overall, we will have an extremely good midfield and cover."

Recent speculation has linked Thomson with a possible move to West Bromwich Albion in January, but Smith insisted that he does not want to lose players. "We've got two months before the next transfer window opens and there's never been any thought in my mind about selling players. The good ones I've got, I want to keep."

Smith also denied suggestions that the club were seeking to offload Steven Smith, the left-back who has spent much of the past two years out injured. Instead, a loan spell is the preferred option for the 23-year-old.

"I spoke to him before and I think he maybe misunderstood what I was talking about," said Smith. "He's been out for two years and reserve games do him no good whatsoever. I spoke to him the other day with a view to going out on loan, to try and get a number of meaningful games under his belt.

"That's 22 months now and he's only played two games - and even in those games he wasn't fully match fit. We've never been able to see the best of the lad since I've been here so my idea was to get him out on loan, get him playing a number of games and then everyone has a better idea of where they are."

Kyle Lafferty has had a testing start to his Rangers career since signing from Burnley in the summer. The Northern Ireland internationalist has worked his way through three separate injuries but is now back fit and announced his return with a goal against Hamilton Academical on Tuesday.

"It's been a sticky start but we will see a bit more of him in the future," said Smith. "We will see more of him in a couple of positions, as well. He has played most of his football wide on the left for us, but I still see him as a striker in the longer term. I'd like to see him gain more experience as a striker because that is where he will end up. He is playing there for Northern Ireland just now. Because of the numbers we have, he may have to play between the two positions before he settles down into a central striking role, but he is only 20 so he has time on his side."

Kirk Broadfoot has been one of the successes of the Smith regime and the Rangers manager confirmed that the defender's fine form will earn him an improved contract. The former St Mirren defender signed a three-year deal with Rangers just over a year ago but he is set to be offered improved conditions and an extension.

"Yes, that will come to him," confirmed Smith. "He had a really good season for us last year and he has cemented that this year with the way he has played and the steadiness he has shown. Previously he was a little bit inconsistent, but he has settled down and is doing really well for us."

The last time Inverness took anything from Ibrox was in March 2007, when they drew 1-1. They are currently struggling for form and have been beaten in their last four games, but Smith believes they are dangerous opponents, particularly on the road. He added: "In away games, they are very dangerous because they are a very solid unit and have a terrific team spirit. At the start of last season, they lost one or two players who had been influential for them but have shown they can cover for that. They have became an almost permanent fixture in the SPL. Inverness are the template for a lot of clubs in Scotland. They are extremely well-run, they have had changes in management but there is still a steadiness and a structure there that's been in place for a wee while."