Rangers skipper goes under the knife.
Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has gone under the knife for an ankle operation that will keep him out for up to four months.
The 30-year-old Scotland midfielder was troubled by ankle problems during the closing weeks of the last campaign and scans during pre-season training confirmed an operation was required which could keep him out until late October.
"Barry has gone today (Monday) for his operation," Smith told the club's official website.
"It's an unusual operation in the sense that footballers don't normally have this type of injury but the specialist says that it isn't too difficult.
"Tendons normally tear or become detached but his is split down the middle.
"When he was moving his ankle the tendon was secured at the ends but it was opening in the middle and that was what was causing the pain.
"So the operation is straightforward enough but to ensure the pliability there needs to be a period of the recuperation which looks like three to four months."
Meanwhile, DaMarcus Beasley will miss the rest of the Gers' pre-season programme after tweaking his hamstring during Sunday's 1-0 friendly victory over Preussen Munster in Germany.
