'Missing' Madjid Bougherra is in the clear after delayed return to Rangers

Madjid Bougherra has been cleared of going AWOL – after convincing manager Walter Smith that he was left stranded by thieves during a Paris stopover en route from Africa.

• The Algerian defender, dropped from Saturday’s 2-1 win over St Johnstone because of his delayed return from international duty, was called into Murray Park for clear-the-air talks yesterday morning.
• And Smith told Sportsmail that he had accepted the explanation of his star centre-half, who will return to the heart of the Ibrox defence for tomorrow’s Champions League visit of Romanian club Unirea Urziceni.
• ‘I have spoken to Madjid and the upshot is that I accepted his explanation for what happened – and that’s it,’ said the Rangers manager.
• ‘He had his bag stolen and it was on Thursday, not on Monday, as we were told initially.
• ‘It happened on Thursday and it’s understandable that there was a bit of turmoil involved in that, because it meant he had lost his phone, his passport and everything.
• ‘He tried to get the necessary papers and other documentation needed to get back into the UK as quickly as he possibly could but it wasn’t easy.
• ‘He is all right, although it has been a bit of an ordeal for him.
• ‘I accept what happened. It is what it is. Madjid is a genuine lad and it’s not as if he’s making it all up.
• ‘We have accepted his explanation now and we get on with it.’
• Bougherra insisted: ‘After Algeria’s game against Rwanda on Sunday, I got some days off.
• ‘I had to be in Glasgow on Friday morning but, on the way home, I lost my passport, my phone and my money in Paris.
• ‘I asked my agent to let the club know while I was dealing with the problems regarding my papers.
• ‘Finally, I arrived in Glasgow on Friday night and Walter Smith decided not to make me play against St Johnstone because I had not trained on the eve of the match.
• ‘But he has not punished me. I am here at Rangers, I want to stay here – and I do not see why I would go to war with the club or deliberately try to cause such trouble.’
• Smith had insisted that Bougherra was due to return to Glasgow on Thursday and the manager’s initial anger was made worse by the fact that he couldn’t make contact with the player during his 24-hour unexplained absence.
• Bougherra’s return to the fold undoubtedly strengthens Rangers, who have Portuguese international midfielder Pedro Mendes struggling for fitness ahead of tomorrow night’s game.
• Smith said: ‘We won’t know about Pedro until tomorrow. The thigh injury is improving every day but he is still doubtful.’