Rangers 2 - 1 St Mirren

Duo out for Gers

Updated: November 6, 2009, 6:06 PM UK

Rangers will be without Kyle Lafferty and Steven Smith for their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against St Mirren.

Both players are suffering from food poisoning and have been ruled out of the match at Ibrox.

Madjid Bougherra has failed to recover from a knee injury, meaning teenager Danny Wilson is set to make his home debut.

Steven Whittaker and Kevin Thomson are both expected to be fit for the game despite missing training on Friday morning, while Pedro Mendes, Kirk Broadfoot and Maurice Edu remain on the sidelines.

Rangers manager Walter Smith has compared Danny Wilson to a young David Narey and admits even he was surprised by how well the youngster handled his promotion to the first team.

Wilson made his senior debut in last week's Co-operative Insurance Cup win at Dundee and impressed enough to retain his place for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Dundee United.

Smith then made the decision to hand the teenager his bow in the Champions League when he partnered David Weir in the heart of defence as Rangers earned a 1-1 draw with Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest on Wednesday.

Wilson stole the show with one of the top performances of the night and is now expected to make his first Ibrox appearance against St Mirren on Saturday.

For Smith, the comparisons with Narey are obvious. The defensive lynchpin of the successful Dundee United team of the 1980s, Narey was also just 17 when he made the breakthrough to senior football.

"I was surprised, not just by the way Danny Wilson played, but by how he handled the overall situation,'' admitted Smith.

"He didn't look fazed by it at all and there were no great signs of nervousness in the first few games he has had.

"I was fortunate at Dundee United to have David Narey and he is a similar type of player to him and has a similar attitude.

"If he can have as good a career as David Narey had, then we will all be happy.''

Looking ahead to the visit of St Mirren, Smith added: "I always think they play to a good level and I was surprised they were fighting relegation last season.

"I think Gus MacPherson could be doing with a bit of help in terms of a little bit of money spent to bring in one or two better players to help lift them again.

"That's the only thing that has been holding them back recently. He deserves great credit for the way he has handled his team over the last few seasons.''

Midfielder Steven Thomson is set to return for St Mirren following illness.

However Lee Mair is suspended following his red card in the 2-0 defeat by Hamilton last weekend.

St Mirren still have a lengthy injury list with Allan Johnston, Steven Robb (both groin), Craig Dargo (shoulder), Chris Smith, Tom Brighton and Mo Camara (all knee) out.

Saints boss Gus MacPherson has backed Andy Dorman to recover quickly from the blow of failing to make the Wales squad for next Saturday's friendly against Scotland.

Chester-born Dorman's international future has been the subject of speculation in Scotland after he became eligible for Wales last month under the new five-year school rule.

The 27-year-old has been one of the Premier League's top performers since joining Saints from New England Revolution in January 2008.

Wales assistant manager Roy Evans watched the midfielder score his 19th goal for the club during the recent 3-3 draw with Motherwell, but he has not done enough to force his way into John Toshack's squad.

Dorman, who moved to north Wales when he was one, has been careful not to talk up his prospects and MacPherson believes he will simply work even harder to impress Toshack.

The St Mirren boss said: "He has shown in this period what a level-headed boy he is because there has been a lot of speculation over the last four or five months, and he has just got on with it.

"He is a good professional. He plays the game the right way and I believe he will just get on with it and see the next few months as trying to impress that little bit more whenever he is watched by the Welsh FA.''

MacPherson believes his improving side can take something at Ibrox but accepts Celtic and Rangers will show their strength over the course of the season.

"The criticism has come from all angles this season but we've only played 10 games,'' he said. "If the criticism is still of that level after 30 games it will be an easier question to answer.

"It's still very early but I said weeks ago that I don't see any other team winning the title other than Rangers or Celtic.''