By Andrew Dickson

LEE McCULLOCH admits he is prepared for the possibility of being omitted from Rangers' team for the UEFA Cup final.

The former Wigan midfielder is fit and available again to manager Walter Smith after he suffered an ankle injury against Celtic last month.

But he was left out of the squad that beat Dundee United 3-1 at Ibrox yesterday in the SPL and knows his recovery might have come too late for Manchester.

If that's the case, he is ready to get behind his team-mates instead as they try to win the club's first European trophy in 36 years.

McCulloch said: "Everybody has probably thought about being left out. We all want to play and we all want to start, myself included.

"But if Walter doesn't pick me, I'll just have to get on with it. It is the same for everyone else.

"The manager has done that much for every player at the club that I don't think they could bear any grudges towards him if they were dropped.

"Obviously they would be disappointed and it is going to happen to somebody. I just hope it isn't me but if it is, I'll take it on the chin."

Smith has worked minor miracles since he returned to the Ibrox helm 16 months ago, taking Rangers back to the forefront of European football again.

And McCulloch is adamant that for that reason, the players in the Light Blues squad are desperate to beat Zenit St Petersburg for him.

The 29-year-old added: "I think we owe it to him. Walter has brought players in who want to play for the club and everyone knows the respect the manager holds in general.

"Within the dressing room, it is even more fantastic and it would be brilliant to go and do it for Walter."